In a political turbulence of monumental dimensions, Guntur Mayor Kavati Siva Naga Manohar Naidu resigned from the mayor’s office, dealing a tremendous setback to Andhra Pradesh’s Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP). Topping the drama, he also made the dramatic announcement of stepping down from the party, denting its leadership in the state further.
YSRCP had made a tremendous splash in the 2021 municipal elections by winning the Guntur Municipal Corporation, breaking the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) monopoly. Kavati, an experienced leader and an important constituent of this triumph, was renowned for his intimate closeness to party leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
He has already tendered his resignation to the municipal commissioner, and after its sanction, his resignation from YSRCP will become effective. Given prominence as the face of powerful Kamma community, his political line took a downturn after losing the 2024 Chilakaluripet Assembly elections. He contested on the YSRCP ticket and garnered 77,000 votes but lost to the TDP chief Prattipati Pulla Rao. The same loss also prompted him to be replaced as in-charge for the Chilakaluripet constituency of the party.
Meanwhile, TDP-Jan Sena’s alliance has also been picking up immense strength in Guntur. The joint forces won convincingly in central seats such as Guntur East and West and had virtually all the 80% or so of municipal corporators aligning with the alliance, at least reportedly so. This effectively has dented YSRCP’s grip over the municipal body to a substantial degree.
The resignation of Kavati will initiate a massive power realignment in the region, and TDP and Jana Sena are now well placed to seize control of the Guntur Municipal Corporation. The latest development is another blow for YSRCP as it continues to find itself losing its grip on Andhra Pradesh.