YSRCP, TDP members squabble over decentralisation in GVMC meet

VISAKHAPATNAM: Tempers rain high at the general body meeting of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) on Friday following heated arguments between members of the ruling YSRCP and the opposition.

Due to the controversy over the YSRCP government's proposal favouring decentralisation of the administrative power, there has been a war-like situation between the ruling party and the opposition TDP. The rivalry percolated even down to the GVMC and reflected during its general body meeting.

Against this backdrop, the ruling party has insisted that the GVMC general body pass the resolution in favour of decentralisation at the meeting. However, the TDP members opposed it and raised slogans against the resolution while standing around the Mayor's podium.

Opposing the decentralisation move, they demanded that a resolution against the privatization of the Visakha steel plant be passed. They also wanted the corporation to constitute a delegation to meet the Prime Minister and submit a petition to the Prime Minister against the moves to privatise the steel plant. An altercation took place between a TDP corporator and MLC Madhav, who claimed that canards were being spread over the steel plant issue.

The meeting also witnessed interesting duels between the treasury and opposition benches on the issues of pig mafia and the alleged irregularities in fogging. The TDP corporators also demanded answers from the municipal commissioner over an alleged Rs 1.5 crore loss to GVMC due to chicken waste.

The opposition members alleged that the GVMC officials were not able to conduct general body meetings properly and brought the issue to the attention of the Mayor. The Mayor expressed displeasure over the malfunctioning of the mics.