Elections in Visakhapatnam: What are the expectations of the voters?

As the election fever reaches a high in Visakhapatnam, we ask, what are the expectations that the voters have from their candidate. At the end of every term, party candidates are back on the streets, trying to persuade their constituents to re-elect them. They make claims and take credit for whatever good might have happened in their locality while making more promises to rectify the bad. New or old, each contender comes forth with an elaborate manifesto and candidates cry themselves hoarse trying to convince the general public to vote for them.

While many go with the general attitude of ‘a known devil is better than an unknown angel’, there are also those who believe that a new candidate might actually make a difference. And then there are also those citizens who are genuinely happy with what their representative has done over the past five years. So, are we a gullible lot who believe all that the candidates promise, or are we smart citizens who seriously study the manifesto and weigh the pros and cons before casting our vote? So, as the election fervour escalates, we get Vizagites to share, what they expect from their MLA

“Firstly, there is a huge scope for improvement in the health care sector. It is important that primary health care centres are stabilised effectively. Secondly, roads in many rural areas are in a pathetic state. Sadly, even an ambulance finds it hard to travel on these roads. Also, a few parts of the constituency, especially villages around Sabbavaram mandal, still face a drinking water crisis. These issues need to be tackled efficiently and solved in a phased and priority-based manner.”

-Eswara Rao

“I wish the MLA of my constituency stays in constant touch with the party’s representatives throughout the area. This would help him/her a great deal in dealing with the problems within the constituency. Ideally, a political leader’s time should be spent mostly in addressing public problems rather than on party meetings.”

-Praneeth Jajjara

“I reside at Ward 13, Visakhapatnam North, and there isn’t much greenery here. Moreover, the area has become a breeding ground for street dogs, which might be quite dangerous given the number of schools around. Poor sanitation and lack of efficient waste segregation are the other issues that I’d like to be addressed. Also, like any other youth in the city, I would like to see more opportunities to work here in Vizag rather than migrating to another city.”

-Madhuri Saripilli

“Focus must be laid on promoting eco-friendly spaces across the city. Also, stray dogs have been causing a menace in our locality for quite some time now. Authorities must take necessary steps to ensure that no individuals are harmed by these stray dogs. Open drains too have been raising concerns.”

-Sahithi Chimalakonda

“Vizag is no longer the good old clean and green city. Unfortunately, widespread industrialization and increased vehicular density have left the city highly polluted. This issue needs to be addressed immediately by the city’s representatives. Also, it is important to keep a check on corruption at various stages of governance.”

-Rajeswara Rao

What else are the expectations of the voters in Visakhapatnam from their MLA/MP ? Do let us know in the comments section below.