AB Venkateswara Rao Enters Vijayawada Mayor Race!

Article by Satya Published on: 11:55 pm, 17 October 2026

Former IPS officer AB Venkateswara Rao is set to make the Vijayawada mayoral race more interesting with the support of Left parties. The CPI and CPM have decided to back him as their common mayoral candidate in the upcoming Vijayawada Municipal Corporation elections.

ABV was one of the strong critics of Jagan and the YSRCP government between 2019-2024. However, after the change of government, he reportedly became unhappy with the NDA government, with speculation that his expectations from the Naidu government were not fulfilled. Since then, he has been openly criticising the government on several issues.

Now, ABV is joining hands with the Left parties and is also looking to bring other parties on board. The CPI and CPM have agreed to contest corporator seats together and are planning discussions with the Congress and other groups.

Meanwhile, the NDA alliance has Vangaveeti Radha in the Vijayawada mayoral race. With the alliance backing Radha and ABV getting Left party support, the contest is set to draw attention.