With the focus on strengthening the grassroots level in the district, the Congress party in Srikakulam district on Wednesday said many youngsters and women were keen to contest the upcoming Municipal and Parishad elections.

Srikakulam district president Sanapala Annaji Rao and Narasannapeta in-charge and senior party leader Mantri Narasimha Murthy attended the first review meeting held by the party in Narasannapeta. Chastising the previous governments in the State, Mr. Murthy said the successive governments had failed to develop Srikakulam since 2014 and ignored irrigation projects over the last 12 years.

He said thousands of farmers and agricultural labourers were facing misery due to the drought-like situation caused by the impact of El Niño, and assured the party would highlight farmers' issues during the local body elections.

Mr. Rao said the constituency-level meetings would be completed in a week and a list of probable and interested candidates would be sent to the party high command. He said PCC president Y.S. Sharmila Reddy has been holding teleconferences frequently to check on the preparedness of the party in the district for the upcoming local body elections.