Cong, YSRC missing strength in local bodies, panchayat polls

Ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Congress and YSR Congress appear to have been facing a tough task in Seemandhra and Telangana if the number of candidates fielded by them for the polls to urban local bodies and panchayati raj institutions are anything to go by.
Elections to urban local bodies (ULBs) are slated for March 30 and those for PRIs -- Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTCs) and the Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) -- for April 6 and 8.
Polling for these local bodies is expected to hold a mirror to the upcoming Lok Sabha and state Assembly elections which are slated for April 30 (in the Telangana districts) and May 7 (in Seemandhra).

Congress is facing strong antagonism in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions in the wake of the state's bifurcation.
YSR Congress seems to have lost its moorings in Telangana after having taken a pro-united Andhra Pradesh (AP) stance.
Nominations for the two elections indicate that Congress seems to have lost ground in the coastal AP and Rayalaseema while YSR Congress appears to have taken a back seat in Telangana.

Out of a total of 2,591 civic wards in 119 municipalities across 13 districts in Seemaandhra region, Congress fielded candidates in 1,132 wards i.E. In less than half the total wards.
Similarly, out of the 363 civic divisions across seven municipal corporations going to polls in Seemandhra, the party is in the race for 173 divisions.

In Seemandhra, the party for the Chittoor Municipal Corporation has not been able to field a single candidate for any of the 50 civic divisions.
In Kadapa Municipal Corporation, it has put just eight and in Eluru only 11 out of the 50 divisions each.
There is, however, some relief as it has entered all 50 civic divisions in the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation along with 54 in the Nellore Municipality.
As far as YSR Congress is concerned, of the 1,399 municipal wards in nine Telangana districts, it has entered the contest in only 187 seats. Out of 150 civic divisions in three municipalities, it is in the race in only 16.

The party has put up one candidate each for the ULB election for the Karimnagar and Ramagundam municipalities.