Liquor & money dictating polls in Munugode, bemoans veteran Communist leader
MUNUGODE: Gadda Laxmaiah, a 70-year-old former RMP doctor, has been observing a flurry of activity since the past few days with a steady stream of vehicles coming from various locations moving towards Nampally village in Munugode constituency.
He wasn't surprised, and he didn't frown as the convoy of vehicles with blaring VIP sirens passed by each day, because he knows it's election season in Munugode, and now is the time for political leaders to make a beeline for the voters. It is an all too familiar situation for Laxmaiah, who has seen several elections in his life, and he knows these vehicles belong to different political parties campaigning for the Munugode by-elections, which will be held on November 3. He knows that the political leaders occupy road space, make empty noises, and by simply being there, they demonstrate their invincibility and privilege.
Minutes after the vehicle passed through the Nampally crossroads, Laxmaiah, who used to work as an RMP doctor providing free medical assistance in Nampally mandal, stated that the elections system has been transformed into a new way by spending large sums of money, supplying liquor to influence voters, and the caste system playing a major role in elections. His 'caste' leaders also invited him to a meeting in advance of the Munugode by-elections.
When elections were held in Munugode locality a few decades ago, Laxmaiah worked for 10 villages in Nampally mandal with veteran Communist leaders in order to gain votes for the party. "When I worked for communist parties a few decades ago, we used to collect one rupee from each voter in each village, which we then counted to estimate people's votes. Those were the days when we worked tirelessly, "Laxmaiah recalled. He now regrets that enormous sums of money are being spent and that barrels of alcohol are being distributed across the constituency to entice voters.
Laxmaiah, who is currently ill after undergoing surgeries, has complained that successive governments have ignored the Munugode constituency for several years. "I have my own house and two sons who look after me. I applied for financial assistance through Arogyasri, but received no response,” lamented the former RMP doctor.
Laxmaiah, a Communist party supporter, stated that the majority of Communist leaders from the constituency had vanished, and there was little active cadre. "I believe there are a number of stupams in Munugode constituency, but no one is interested in paying homage to them even during the elections by abandoning them," he rued.
