Self Help Groups Will Decide Poll Victory In AP

Vishakhapatnam: As elections are just a week away, political parties are leaving no stone unturned to take in their stride the vote bank of the 94 lakh women working in eight lakh self-help groups (SHGs) across the state.

Andhra Pradesh population stands at 5.30 crore, wherein 3,93,45,717 are registered voters, of which 1.99 crore are women voters.

Records show, each district has five to six lakh SHG members, who are crucial to decide the fate of the candidates.

In the north Andhra districts of Vishakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam consist of more than 15 lakh members in the two lakh SHGs and Mepma (Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas) groups in the area.

The YSRCP has also promised more benefits to the SHGs than the TDP.

Parties are trying to play their cards well in the constituencies where their the SHGs are the highest, especially, cities such as Vishakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Tirupati, Nellore, Guntur, Ongole, Chittoor, among others.

However, as to whom the mandate goes is uncertain as the SHGs are tight-lipped about their choices.

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