MLC poll fever rises in North Andhra

WITH the polling day for North Andhra Teachers' MLC election drawing closer, the political atmosphere in Vizianagaram heated up much before the summer.

- SREENU BABU PATIVADA @ Vizianagaram

Though there are ten contenders in the fray, the main contest would be among Pakalapati Raghu Varma (APTF), Koredla Vijaya Gowri (PDF), and Gade Srinivasulu Naidu (PRTU).

There are 22,493 voters including 8,985 women for the North Andhra Teachers MLC constituency comprising Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Anakapalle, Alluri Sitarama Raju and Parvathipuram Manayam districts. Polling will be held from 8 am to 4 pm on February 27 and the counting will commence on March 3.

Candidates have intensified their campaign by touching teachers' associations, political affiliation, caste, and election agenda besides appeasing the voters with some other freebies. The TDP announced its support to APTF candidate and sitting MLC Pakalapati Raghu Varma, who hails from Bhogapuram mandal in Vizianagaram district and is contesting second time now.