VMC Council Clashes Over Privatising Medical Colleges and Hall Naming
VMC Council Clashes Over Privatising Medical Colleges and Hall Naming
Tensions flare at Vijayawada's VMC as NDA and YSRCP clash over privatising medical colleges and a hall named after a freedom fighter.
The general council meeting of the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) on Wednesday turned into a tense session as NDA and YSRCP corporators clashed over two flashpoint issues: the privatisation of ten medical colleges in the state and the naming of a kalyana mandapam after freedom fighter Chityala Ilamma.
K. Malleswari, YSRCP corporator from the 27th ward, proposed that the hall in her ward be named after Chityala Ilamma. She noted the hall had previously borne the leader’s name, but that name board had been removed by some local leaders. The proposal was approved by the council, but VMC Commissioner Dhyanachandra H.M. said the matter is pending with the government. Questions were raised about why government permission is needed after the council's approval, prompting a sharper exchange between YSRCP and NDA members. The mayor, Rayana Bhagyalakshmi, urged the commissioner to ensure the name board is in place by Thursday.
On the other issue, the council debated a proposal to end the PPP arrangement for the medical colleges and bring them under state control, under Section-88K of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Act-1955. YSRCP corporators argued that privatising the colleges would deprive students from economically weaker sections of free education. The NDA countered that the policy debate should be about governance and timing, not personal attacks, while maintaining they were not against naming the hall but critical of the way the mayor steered the discussion. The YSRCP also alleged that the government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, is anti-poor and would deprive poor students of free education by privatising the sector.
By the end, the commissioner was told to arrange the hall signage by Thursday, while the privatisation proposal remains under government review, highlighting the state’s political fault lines in Vijayawada.
Cover image source: YSRCP chief to submit 1 crore signatures to Guv against privatisation of medical colleges in Andhra 🔗
