VISAKHAPATNAM: Bad roads, clogged drains and unhygienic conditions in slums are the bane of Gajuwaka which was recently merged with Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation. The CPI(M) and its ally, the TDP, are contesting three wards 60, 61 and 64.

While CPI(M) candidates -- P. Sesharatnam and G. Subba Rao -- are contesting for the 60th and 61st wards, TDP candidate P. Srinivas is in fray in the 64th ward. The strategy of the CPI(M)-TDP combine is to defeat the Congress and a roadshow was organised on Tuesday.

CPI(M) State secretary B.V. Raghavulu and district secretary Ch. Narasinga Rao arrived at Old Gajuwaka junction by 10.30 a.m. but there were only CPI(M) workers to greet them.

In the next half-an-hour, top leaders of the TDP -- Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, Kala Venkata Rao, Tammineni Seetharam, Gadde Babu Rao and Gudivada Nagamani -- arrived but they too were received only by the CPI(M) leaders and workers.

Telugu Desam workers were nowhere to be seen and the few yellow flags that fluttered were in the hands of the Left party activists. It is learnt that the TDP cadre was supporting the rebel candidates and hence shied away from the meeting.

"I have already conducted a door-to-door campaign and visited 2,100 of the total 2,600 houses in the ward. This is the biggest ward in Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation with a population of 22,000 of whom 19,000 are voters," CPI(M) candidate Sesharatnam told this reporter.

"People are living on the hill slopes at five areas in Gajuwaka for the past 15 years but there were not given pattas," she said and demanded the issue of pattas to them.

"We have bright chances of success but there are certain problems with the TDP cadre," she said in reply to a question.

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