15 Candidates Compete for Mayor’s Post

The race for the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Mayor’s post has narrowed to 15 candidates following the withdrawal of nominations. The final list includes candidates from political parties as well as Independents.

A total of 29 nominations were initially filed for the Mayor’s post. After scrutiny, 21 nominations were declared valid, while eight were rejected. Six candidates subsequently withdrew their nominations, leaving 15 contestants in the final race.

Major Political Parties in the Contest

The key candidates include Mukka Sravani of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Varudu Kalyani of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), Karanam Keerthana Grace of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Devara Naga Sunanda Devi of the Congress, and Nammi Bhavani of the Bharatiya Chaitanya Yuva Jana Party.

The remaining candidates are Independents, making the final contest a mix of party-backed nominees and independent contenders.

TDP Alliance vs YSRCP

Although 15 candidates remain in the race, the principal political contest is expected to centre on the TDP-led alliance and YSRCP. The outcome will depend on the strength of the parties among elected corporators and their ability to secure support in the municipal election.

The GVMC elections are scheduled for October 28, 2026, with the Mayor’s post reserved for women. The result will determine who leads the city’s civic administration.