Rajahmundry: MLC candidates avoid costly gifts

Rajahmundry:  With campaigning for AP Legislative Council polls ending on Wednesday evening for election to be held on March 22 in Godavari districts, none of the contestant offered any complimentary gifts to voter unlike the past when mobile phones and silver glasses were given to many voters. This was partly because of the huge number of voters and the cost involved.

As many as 46 candidates are in fray with nearly 2.93 lakh voters for the present polls from graduates’ segment in East and West Godavari districts.

Earlier, Aditya Group of Educational Institutions chairman N. Sesha Reddy reportedly offered a mobile phone for each voter while contesting for MLC polls from teachers' constituency as the number of electors from such constituency was nearly 12,000 and he won the contest. Taking a cue from him, Chaitanya Group of Educational Institutions chairman K.V.V. Satyanarayana Raju too reportedly offered silver glasses to the voters while contesting from graduates' constituency with the number of voters to be about 1.50 lakh. He, however, lost the race.

This time, the contestants seem to be trying their luck at the ballot by making promises to voters that they would fight for their rights and welfare. Though some of the contestants can afford, they do not want to spend huge amount of money as they are not sure they would win. Some of the rich contestants are of the opinion that if they fail to get elected, they can offer a few crores of rupees to the ruling party as party fund and get some nominated post to be in power continuously for several years. They reportedly assume that offering money to the party fund will certainly help them find some position in the government instead of spending money to purchase compliments and offer to the voters as there is no guarantee for their win in such gamble.

One of the contestants said, "Earlier, rich contestants used to offer gifts to voters expecting a win. But, voters now want only committed leaders to be elected. This time, I believe none is offering compliments. Only one or two may be offering petty gifts to some select voters whom they have trust that they would voter for them only."