NDA unseats GVMC Mayor Golagani Hari Venkata Kumari in no-confidence vote

In a significant local political development, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) passed a no-confidence motion on Saturday against Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) Mayor Golagani Hari Venkata Kumari of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). The vote took place during a specially convened GVMC council session beginning at 11 a.m., with 74 corporators and ex-officio members backing the motion amid a walkout by YSRCP corporators.

The no-confidence vote marks a clear power shift in Andhra Pradesh’s largest city following the 2024 state elections, where the NDA—comprising the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Jana Sena Party (JSP)—secured a sweeping mandate. The current state government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has since moved swiftly to consolidate its control across urban bodies like the GVMC, which remain crucial to administrative influence and electoral momentum.

How did NDA gain majority support in the GVMC?

The NDA secured the support of 74 corporators and ex-officio members out of 98, comfortably crossing the threshold for the motion to succeed. Reports indicate the alliance had taken steps in the days leading up to the vote to avoid defections. Corporators aligned with the TDP and its allies were flown to Kuala Lumpur, while YSRCP corporators were initially taken to Bengaluru before being shifted to Colombo in a bid to counter any possible poaching.

Two key defections strengthened the NDA’s position. Priyanka Lakshmi, daughter of former YSRCP minister Avanthi Srinivas, and Tippala Vamsi Reddy, son of ex-Gajuwaka MLA Tippala Nagi Reddy, are said to have supported the NDA during the motion. Their backing provided the alliance with a numerical cushion, allowing them to proceed with confidence despite the YSRCP boycott.

Why did YSRCP corporators walk out of the council session?

YSRCP leaders alleged that the NDA had used coercive and unethical tactics to engineer support for the motion. Corporators from the ruling party staged a walkout from the GVMC council chamber prior to the vote, stating that the proceedings violated democratic norms. Former ministers K Kannababu and Gudivada Amarnath have publicly condemned the motion and accused the opposition of manipulating the process.

The YSRCP has stated it will explore legal remedies to contest the outcome, though no formal petition had been filed as of the latest updates. Political analysts say the walkout was likely intended as a symbolic protest, signalling YSRCP’s unwillingness to legitimise the vote.

Who will become the next GVMC mayor?

With the mayoral seat now vacant, the NDA is expected to nominate a new mayor in the coming days. Insiders within the TDP have suggested that Peela Srinivas, a senior corporator from the party, is the likely frontrunner. While a formal announcement is awaited, sources say the oath-taking ceremony could take place within the next week.

The selection of a new mayor aligned with the state government is expected to expedite urban development projects, streamline administrative coordination, and reinforce the NDA’s long-term strategic interests in Visakhapatnam—considered a focal point of coastal development under the current leadership.

What does this mean for the future of Andhra Pradesh politics?

The successful no-confidence vote at the GVMC council marks a deeper consolidation of power by the NDA in urban Andhra Pradesh. Following its state-level electoral success in 2024, the alliance under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu appears intent on reshaping municipal governance to align with its broader political agenda. Visakhapatnam, a key urban and industrial hub, has now emerged as a litmus test for the NDA’s ability to administer large-scale urban reforms.

Observers suggest that the ouster of the YSRCP mayor may have ramifications for the party’s internal cohesion, especially as defections continue to weaken its position in local bodies. With upcoming local body and municipal elections expected in phases across 2025, Saturday’s outcome offers insight into voter sentiment and power equations at the grassroots level.

This political transition also feeds into the larger narrative surrounding business news today India and regional investment trends. With the GVMC now expected to align more closely with state policies, infrastructure planning and investment facilitation may see accelerated approvals—impacting stock market trends for regional real estate, logistics, and industrial development.