Double whammy for Kurnool city mayor B.Y. Ramaiah

Leaders of Telugu Desam Party, which has won both the Kurnool assembly and LS seats, is preparing to move a no-confidence motion against Ramaiah in the Kurnool Municipal Corporation (KMC).
Three corporators of KMC have joined TDP immediately after results of the general elections had been declared. Four corporators had already left the YSRCP before the election results.

Kurnool Municipal Corporation has 52 divisions, with 33 coming within the Kurnool assembly constituency, 16 under Panyam and 3 under the Kodumur assembly seat. While YSRC held 44 divisions, Telugu Desam had only eight corporators. As a result, Ramaiah has been the Kurnool mayor from 2021.

With the tables turning and TDP winning the Kurnool, Panyam and Kodumur seats, TD leaders have started their efforts towards dethroning Ramaiah from the mayor’s post. As part of these plans, newly elected Kurnool MLA T.G. Bharath has invited interested YSRCP corporators to join the TDP, promising them good positions and priority in sanctioning funds for their divisions.

Four corporators from divisions 22, 17, 30 and 38 had joined the TDP before the notification for general elections had been issued. Corporators of divisions 3, 6 and 13 joined hands with MLA Bharath immediately after the results. With this, the tally of TDP has increased from eight to 15 corporations. TDP is expected to reach the magic figure of 26 within the next couple of weeks.

Sources said a general body meeting of the Kurnool Municipal Corporation may be summoned in the last week of July, when a no-confidence motion will be moved against mayor Ramaiah.

It is said the Kurnool TD MLA has offered the mayor post to a Muslim candidate to consolidate its position within the minority community. The deputy mayor’s post may be offered to a corporator representing one of the 16 divisions under the Panyam assembly constituency.