ANANTAPUR: Lack of leadership is taking a heavy toll on the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Anantapur district, which gave the party six seats in the last Assembly elections.

The lackadaisical selection of candidates by the TDP has also made the Congress task a little easy.

Though the Congress held four out of six civic bodies -- one corporation and five municipalities going to the elections later this month -- the TDP is expected to put up a better show this time than before.

Tight spot

Anantapur (50 divisions), which was upgraded into a municipal corporation earlier this year, is set to be retained by the Congress as the TDP has faltered at the stage of candidate selection itself.

It failed to field a nominee for the 35th division paving way for the unanimous victory of the first Congress candidate in the State.

Two more divisions -- 4th and 13th - are certain to fall into the ruling party's kitty. While the TDP nominee for the 13th division has withdrawn from the fray, a friendly contest is slated for the fourth division.

In the nine divisions allotted to the Left parties by the Congress, the CPI (six) and CPI (M) (three) appear to be ahead in at least two seats each.

This situation leaves the TDP in a tight spot as it is putting up a credible fight in only 43 divisions, whereas it must bag at least 26 seats to remain in the reckoning for the Mayor's post.

All the aspirants for mayorship -- three from TDP and two from the Congress -- which is reserved for the Backward Classes, are first timers to face the ballot test.

In good position?

In Dharmavaram Municipality (40 wards) held by the BJP in alliance with the TDP last time, the TDP appears well placed, as this town of weavers is known to be a party bastion for long.

The Congress and the TDP have locked horns in Guntakal (37 wards) with identical strengths and weaknesses.

Both the parties are facing rebels in a significant number of wards. The CPI has bagged one ward unanimously here.

The contest in Tadipatri (BC reserved) appears to be a cakewalk for the Congress, which has already won five wards without contest in the face of allegations that rivals were arm-twisted to withdraw.

The ruling party is also feeling at home in Kadiri (36 wards), as the TDP lacks a good leadership.

In Rayadurg (31 wards), another stronghold of the TDP, a keen contest is on the cards.

The Congress is making all-out efforts to wrest the civic body from the TDP for the first time.

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