Sri Vijaya Puram, April 24: In a significant political development in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, S Shahul Hameed of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was elected as the new Chairperson of the Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council (SVPMC) for the fourth-year term. The election concluded with Hameed securing 15 votes, comfortably defeating Sudeep Rai Sharma, who received 9 votes. The result comes in the wake of a formal alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the TDP, with the BJP extending its support to Hameed under the banner of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The alliance appears to have paid off, cementing the NDA’s position in the council and paving the way for a stable administration focused on development. With the Chairperson’s post now filled, all eyes are on the elections scheduled for tomorrow to appoint the Senior Vice Chairperson and Junior Vice Chairperson, which will complete the council’s leadership structure for the year ahead.
Hameed now assumes office at a time when the SVPMC faces a slew of administrative, financial, and infrastructure-related challenges. Among the most pressing is the growing controversy over non-functional Water ATMs across the municipal area. These units, installed with the intent to provide affordable drinking water, have largely failed to operate, triggering widespread public frustration and calls for a CBI probe. The scandal has raised serious concerns about tendering processes, maintenance lapses, and potential misappropriation of public funds. As the new Chairperson, Hameed is under pressure to ensure transparency and accountability while restoring public trust.
The council, responsible for providing essential civic services like waste management, water supply, sanitation, and infrastructure development, is also grappling with a backlog of civic issues. From erratic water supply to poor sanitation in many wards, public grievances have mounted over the past year. While treated water is supplied via the Andaman Public Works Department, residents frequently complain about irregularity and poor quality. On sanitation, the need for cleaner public spaces and upgraded drainage systems remains urgent, especially with the onset of monsoon season.
Infrastructure improvements, particularly the development of roads, transport connectivity, and community spaces, have also been flagged as urgent concerns. Health infrastructure remains another crucial area. The shortage of specialist doctors and under-equipped health facilities has been a longstanding issue across the islands. The lack of advanced medical services often forces patients to travel to Sri Vijaya Puram or mainland cities for treatment. There is also a rising demand for public fitness infrastructure such as indoor stadiums and open-air gyms – an initiative the council has promised to take forward.
Apart from crisis management, the council under Hameed is expected to focus on sustainability. Key initiatives such as the shift towards plastic-free zones, installation of LED street lights, rainwater harvesting, and other energy-saving measures are already underway. However, much depends on the effective implementation of central government schemes like the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), and the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM).
A major obstacle to progress, however, remains financial. The SVPMC has reportedly faced repeated shortfalls in fund allocations from the UT administration, severely restricting its capacity to execute public projects. Improving internal revenue generation, through better tax collection and financial accountability, is another area that the new administration must prioritize.
Hameed’s leadership will also be tested on the administrative front. Coordination among departments like engineering, public health, accounts, and water works is often lacking, delaying key projects. Capacity-building for municipal staff and the creation of a responsive public grievance redressal system are being seen as vital steps toward more citizen-centric governance.
BJP State Vice President and Media Convenor M. Vinod, commenting on the NDA’s win, said, “The collaboration between BJP and TDP underscores a mutual commitment to the development of the region.” That development, however, hinges on how quickly the new Chairperson can transition from political consolidation to administrative delivery.
With the vice-chairperson elections tomorrow, the council’s leadership framework is expected to firm up further, shaping the municipal direction for the year to come.
