JOIN USAspiring candidates of Assembly polls, attempt to lure voters and supporters through gifts.
Election fever is high in the district and likely contestants are using every trick possible to lure potential voters.
Though the election is still 11 months away, several financially well-off candidate hopefuls have taken on the guise of social workers and have promised residents of benefits rightly owed to them by the government.
These individuals have organised various programmes and have exhibited their names and photographs everywhere. Some individuals have even had their photographs printed on the cover pages of the notebooks due for free distribution.
Various competitions like rangoli and sports also have been organised. One likely candidate has even distributed free bus pass to students.
These imitation social workers have also resorted to paying the annual taxes of traders, offering monetary help for weddings and funerals, distributing sports kits and organising free pilgrimages for elderly people – for free.
The birth and death centenaries of famous personalities have been celebrated with grandeur for a political agenda, with larger-than-life size banners and cut-outs occupying prominent spaces outside venues. Many have even provide ambulances to government hospitals.
Members of the public also claimed that the hopefuls had distributed cattle at weddings. “They are competing with each other to prove themselves better than the government system.” one resident said.
“They have even requested that people turn to them in times of crisis instead of going to legislators. But these favours are followed by a soft word that favours should be remembered while voting.”
‘Be indebted’
According to residents, even the members of the Legislative Council and State-level people’s representatives have come to the district to advise people who have received gifts that they should respect and vote for those likely canidates who have spent crores of rupees on them. They always remind us that we should be indebted to them.
“But these ‘social workers’ have no interest in addressing issues like drought. They do not speak a work about a permanent solution to the water crisis. They do not even mingle with people to find out their problems. Can they be called social workers?” asked Sowmya, a college student.
“Using money and gifts to buy votes is not official in the system of democracy followed by bour country. But these people believe that they can buy anything with money. People should be wary and should avoid falling prey to their cheap tactics,” said
Narayanaswamy, a resident.
“The Election Commission should see to it that no malpractices are made even after the election. They should keep an eye on likely candidates. There should be a check on the inflow of money and materials used to lure voters.
The Commission and other government undertakings should take steps to strengthen democratic fabric,” he added.