The ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) in Peruvayal panchayat is confident that its notable achievements, including an ISO certification for best service, would hold it in good stead in the elections to the local bodies.
The panchayat is credited with spending the entire Special Component Plan for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes and expending more than 90 per cent of the general component in the annual budget allocation.
It also introduced a mechanism for online distribution of certificates and an e-payment system for building tax for the public.
'Our achievements are visible'
“Our achievements are visible to the people and they will not let us down,” says Subitha Thottancheri, incumbent president of the panchayat.
The CPI(M)-led Opposition, which lost the panchayat by a margin of two seats last time, however, is not ready to leave anything to chance.
According to CPI(M) councillor and Leader of the Opposition in the panchayat K.M. Ganesan, most of the claims of “development” by the UDF were peripheral and without any real significance to the people.
“The ruling font has not been able to start the functioning of the Women’s Industrial Centre in spite of having an own building that was constructed for it during the LDF tenure more than five years ago,” said Mr. Ganesan. The panchayat’s long-standing demand for a playground was yet to materialise, he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured only one seat last time, is pinning its hopes on the “new wave of revival” for the party across the State.
The post of president, which was reserved for women last time, will be reserved for the Scheduled Caste (general) category this time. With this, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), which is a major force in the panchayat with eight seats, will have to settle for a Congress candidate as president if the front returns to power.
