Panchayat elections get urban touch-Oct 9, 2010,

Panchayat elections get urban touch

Pervez Iqbal Siddiqui, TNN, Oct 9, 2010,


LUCKNOW: "Please don't vote for me. I am corrupt, lazy and greedy." This is how a poster introduces a candidate contesting the upcoming panchayat elections in Siddhartnagar. "If elected, I swear to sell my vote (to elect panchayat chief) to one who offers the best price and am committed to usurp all the development funds that come my way." A campaign gimmick, the poster gives a glimpse of how panchayat elections are no longer a countryside affair, about illiterate farmers and uneducated rural class.

Dangling from an electricity pole in Khesraha (Block no. 28) township, the off-set printed full colour poster of one Kaif Ansari - a panchayat member aspirant -- reiterates in bold font: "Once elected, I will get my rivals implicated in false criminal cases to establish my terror." The poster concludes with: "I promise that I will buy a new SUV from first instalment of black money that I earn and guarantee not to be seen in my area, till the next elections, under any circumstances whatsoever."

It is not only the campaign material that is at par with what is used in Parliament and assembly election campaigns, but also the issues. "It is no longer about proper drainage or water supply. People want to get rid of corruption. They are perhaps sure that once the corruption is checked, the drainage systems and water supplies will improve automatically," explains Abdul Samad, election manager of one Kaif Ansari.

The fact that panchayat elections are no longer a hyper local affair limited to the city outskirts, can also be gauged from the fact that even some big shots of state politics have not only fielded their family members in the fray but are also organising their election campaigns, full throttle. For instance, Hardoi district panchayat adhyaksh Mukesh Agarwal, brother of politician and MP Naresh Agarwal, has fielded his wife Kamini Agarwal for the adhyaksh post. Agarwal occupied the seat for the last 10 years but had to step back after the seat was reserved for women.

Despite a strong political background, Agarwals appear skeptical of Kamini's victory as she has filed her papers from three seats -- Hariyawan (III), Tandiyawan (II) and Surpsa (II) panchayat. Though she is learnt to have withdrawn her candidature from one of the seats, she is still in fray from two seats.

The importance of panchayat polls can also be assessed from the fact that Anil Sharma, BSP MLA from Khurja in Bulandshahr, had fielded his young daughter Juhi Sharma. However, Sharma's political rival and former zila panchayat chairman of Rashtriya Lok Dal Raj Kumar Giri challenged her candidature insisting that she was yet to attain the minimum age of 21 years. The additional district magistrate, Khurja, Satish Chandra cancelled her candidature after it was established that she was short of the minimum age for contesting by 10 months.

With such political bigwigs taking on their rivals in proxy through their kin, the common politically ambitious individuals too are jumping into the fray, even if it means going against the tradition of their surroundings.

One such situation, for instance, is from Ramwapur Kalan village of Utraula development block in Balrampur district. The village has never seen a panchayat election since 1957. But the tradition is being challenged this time. So far, the village would nominate only one person for the post of pradhan who would be declared winner unopposed. But the village will witness a contest this time as one Shahid has filed his nomination to contest against the village's unanimous choice Babulla. Since the last date for withdrawal of names is over, the village is set to see the polls for the first time in 50 years.

"From 1957 to 1976, one Hasmullah was nominated and re-nominated as pradhan unopposed. Thereafter, the post was passed to Maqbool Ahmed, Yaseen, Sharafat Ullah, Haaji Gulam Nabi, Bashir and Siyaram," said Dilshad of Ramwapar village.




Read more: Panchayat elections get urban touch - The Times of India