Nizamabad: They tell girls that the way to a man’s heart is the stomach. Apparently candidates for the gram panchayat elections think this adage applies to voters too.
As a result, a few contesting candidates for sarpanch, Upa sarpanch and ward member posts are offering cash and food in villages. Part of the goodie-bag is a kilogram of meat worth Rs 500 that is being supplied to each household in villages one week prior to polling in the first phase of elections on January 21.
In addition, cash ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 is also handed over to the voters either community-wise or colony-wise in villages. As a result, election expenditure has become costlier.
Gram panchayat elections will be conducted in three phases on January 21, 25 and 30 in Nizamabad and Kamareddy districts.
In the recent Assembly elections, a few MLA candidates too supplied meat to voters for their support. And for that, they had procured sheep and goats in large numbers. Sarpanch candidates are following the same template. As a result, because of the feasts, the people are enjoying the Sankranti festival over a week.
Political leaders as well as real estate businessmen are trying their luck in the local body elections. At least Rs 10 lakhs has been spent by a candidate on average to contest in the gram panchayat elections in Nizamabad district.
Speaking to this newspaper, Jakranpally mandal former zilla parishad territorial constituency (ZPTC) member, Congress leader Suresh (Bujji) said that elections had gotten out of reach for lower middle and poor families. Only financially sound candidates had dared to contest in the elections, he said. “If candidates spend the cash out of passion for the elections it is no problem, but they (elected representatives) try to collect the money they spend from public funds and that is dangerous for governance,” he said.
“I have a good name among the people, but am unable to cater to their requirements in the election campaign,” former sarpanch from Nandipet mandal said.
He is among those unable to bear the huge expense needed for gram panchayat elections. A few former sarpanches have stayed away from elections. It is a transformation period in the electoral process as enticement of voters has reached its peak, he said.
But on the other hand, election officials are helpless as no complaint has been received on the violation of the model code of conduct in gram panchayat elections.
