Budgets of local and civic bodies rarely do influence the electorate. Yet, they give a feel-good factor unlike the interim budgets of the Union and State governments presented during the election year.
In fact, the budget of the Corporation, presented by Deputy Mayor P.T. Abdul Latheef, and that of the district panchayat, presented by vice president R. Sasi, on Monday, involved more than what meets the eye during the run-up to the three-tier local body polls this September. Through the budgets, the CPI(M)-led Left Front Democratic (LDF), it appears, intends to make politically significant overtures to the voters.
A quick analysis reveals that the budgets have reached out to the common man rather than announcing unachievable multi-crore schemes. The Corporation budget focuses on improving municipal governance and developing essential infrastructure along with the implementation of ongoing schemes while the district panchayat prioritises agriculture, social security, and welfare measures.
In the 2010 civic body polls, the LDF managed to scrape through by retaining the 75- member Corporation council by winning seven more seats than the United Democratic Front (UDF). Possibly, the 20 wards of the three grama panchayats — Elathur, Beypore, and Cheruvannur-Nallalam — which had been merged with the Corporation, helped the LDF.
What baffled LDF poll managers then was it that the implementation of multi-crore projects which changed the cityscape had little effect on the electorate. The multi-crore projects included the E.K. Nayanar Flyover, Sarovaram Bio-Park, and four-lane passageway from Eranhipalam to Arayidathupalam and the commissioning of the portions of the Kozhikode bypass.
Most of these projects had received financial assistance from the Asian Development Bank, the State government, or the Centre.
This realisation might have prompted Prof. Latheef, who presented his 15{+t}{+h}budget, to stick to core issues such as providing drinking water and renovating roads.
Moreover, the budget hopes to cash-in on the ‘unfavourable political climate’ against the government. The district panchayat budget has set aside relatively huge sums for public works, education, housing, and agriculture sectors. Equal prominence has been given to all the 27 wards. Incidentally, the LDF won 14 seats in the 2010 polls while the remaining 13 wards are held by the Congress-IUML- SJ (D) combine. Budgets might be driven by political compulsion, but it has to be seen whether they will really please the voters.
