Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 : Filed under Congress, News.
Congress corporator Muttamsetty Venkata Ranta Bindu, a relative of Praja Rajyam leader Allu Aravind and a loyalist of Vijayawada East MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna, was elected Mayor in a smooth and unanimous election at the special meeting of the general body of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) on Tuesday.
The vacancy arose as a result of the resignation of Mallika Begum, a loyalist of MP Lagadapati Rajagopal, last month as per an informal agreement worked out in 2005 among the three main groups in the city Congress after the elections to the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation to share the post among their followers. The first year was given to CPI, which made Tadi Sakuntala the Mayor, while the next term of two years was supposed to come the way of Ms. Ratna Bindu, but Mr. Rajagopal managed to get Ms. Begum the Mayor’s post.Ms. Ratna Bindu’s name was recently cleared by PCC president D. Srinivas and Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, putting at rest speculations in the party that she might not be considered for the post in view of her relation with Mr. Aravind and some other corporator of the kapu community could be considered, instead.
M.V. Ratna Bindu, soon after being elected Mayor, was flooded with greetings and reminded about her duties and responsibilities by representatives of all political parties.
While Opposition parties – the CPI, the CPI (M) and the TDP – reminded her about her responsibilities as Mayor, Congress MLA Devineni Rajasekhar (Nehru) did not hesitate to say that her performance would play a crucial role in the ensuing elections.
"It’s going to a tough time. You have to face both Assembly and Parliament elections. Our seats are dependent on your performance," said Mr. Rajasekhar, even while congratulating her.
While MP Lagadapati Rajagopal observed that the unanimous election of Ms. Ratna Bindu had set a ‘good trend’ in the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC), Vijayawada East MLA Vangaveeti Radhakrishna said: "Initially some people tried to prevent your (Ratna Bindu) election. However, you have been elected unanimously."
Mr. Radhakrishna’s remarks came in the backdrop of speculations in the party for some time that her candidature might not be considered for the remaining term of the VMC general body in view of her family’s ‘close links’ with Praja Rajyam Party president Chiranjeevi. Mr. Rajagopal also kept the speculations alive by maintaining that there was no ‘agreement’ of any kind in the party about giving next chance to Ms. Ratna Bindu.
Floor leaders P. Gowtham Reddy (CPI), Ch. Babu Rao (CPI-M) and Y. Ramana (TDP), besides independent corporator Mahadevu Appaji, who is now sailing with the Praja Rajyam Party, and others assured her of their cooperation but sounded a word of caution that they would stiffly oppose any ‘anti-people policies’.
The environs of the VMC council hall and building were filled with jestings and wits during the election and after. A slip of tongue by Deputy Mayor Samanthapudi Narasaraju and Vijayawada West MLA Sk. Nasar Vali crated some lighter moments in the hall.
The corporators burst into laughter when Mr. Narasaraju clubbed the names of present MLA (Sk. Nasar Vali) and former MLA (Jaleel Khan), and said: "Now, Vijayawada West MLA Janaab Jaleel Nasar Vali will speak."
Mirthful moments
The mirthful moments continued when Mr. Nasar Vali forgot the name of former Mayor Tadi Sakuntala, his former party colleague who is now sailing with the Praja Rajyam, and sought the help of Mr. Radhakrishna sitting next to him in recollecting it.
"What is the name of Praja Rajyam girl?" he asked, even as the mike was on.
The photographers had their hands full when Ms. Ratna Bindu was greeted by her husband M. Vijay Prasad, daughter M. Srija, who came straight from school, son Vamsi Durga Prasad, relatives and followers.
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