JOIN USYouth spread awareness in Bagepalli on poll gimmicks
With the Assembly elections nearing, activists have started resorting to all kinds of tricks to woo the voters. But their unscrupulous means have angered some youngsters.
A group of youth, who aim to work for the development of Bagepalli constituency, have formed a forum to specifically prevent ‘self-proclaimed social workers’ and ‘corrupt communalists’ from making an impact on the common man in the taluk.
The forum members say the ‘threat’ of such social workers only aggravates during poll time and they hope to spread awareness among citizens about the issue. “We also wish to convince the voters to elect a suitable candidate, instead of falling for the appealing words of social workers.”
Sumanth, the convener of the forum, told Deccan Herald, “Free mass weddings, free water supply, distribution of jersey cows are some of the attractions used to woo voters. The citizens will be told not to fall for such temporary charms but gauge a contestant based on his or her social and political achievements.”
He said the Bagepalli constituency had a comparatively large number of such social workers, but most of them did not reside in the taluk, but in Bangalore. “They visit the constituency only at the time of elections, again with inducements,” he said.
The forum undertook a rally on Monday protesting against such activities. More than 200 youngsters participated.
Support to CPM
Narayanaswamy, assistant coordinator of the forum, said the members supported G V Sriram Reddy, state secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
“The CPM leader has lived in Bagepalli for the last 30 years and continues to work and fight for the cause of citizens. We will campaign for him this time, without any financial or other support.
‘Votes not for sale’
The honour and dignity of a democracy are always at stake during elections and voters should not fall prey to inducements offered by candidates, said G V Sriram Reddy, state CPM secretary. “It is the duty of voters to elect a good leader and thereby protect the sanctity of democracy,” said the former MLA.
He was speaking at the Yuva Chaitanya motorbike rally and public meeting organised in front of the Taluk Office in Bagepalli town on Monday. Steps should be taken to ensure that people’s freedom of expression is not threatened at any cost.
Off the 545 parliamentarians, 380 of them are extremely rich. Back home, of the 224 legislatures, 80 are involved in land mafia, 34 in liquor mafia and 28 in mine mafia. As a result, the development of the State has been hampered, he added.
The youth in the rural areas should create awareness to wipe out corruption, caste and religions, which in turn will help creation of a better society, he added.
Reddy said voters should teach a lesson to those self-proclaimed social workers who during election mislead people, especially the youth.
In spite of spending Rs 500 crore, the present legislator has not been able take up asphalting work on the widened main road in the town. Further, even lecturers and staff have not been appointed to the Government First Grade College in the town.
Some leaders contest elections only to protect their ill-gotten wealth, said Reddy.
The CPM supporters, who started their bike rally at the National College, travelled through all the main roads and reached Taluk Office. Traffic was disrupted for a while during the rally and the public meeting.
CPM district secretary M P Munivenkatappa, Taluk CPM secretary Raghuram Reddy, Taluk Panchayat vice president Shankar Reddy, Dr Anil Kumar and others were present on the occasion.