The elections to gram panchayats will be ‘technically’ held on non-partisan lines as they are apolitical grass-roots administrative bodies. But in reality, political parties play a big role in these elections as they provide an opportunity for them to build their grass-roots cadre. It is in this background that the coming elections to gram panchayats are witnessing a series of activities among all the major political parties, as each of them is trying to outsmart the other in terms of backing candidates.
Ministers, DCCs, to spot candidates
The Congress, which completed two years of its rule in the State, has given responsibilities of identifying candidates and campaigning in gram panchayat polls to the district Congress committees (DCCs) and district in-charge Ministers.
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Though elections are held on non-party lines , the DCC presidents have been directed to work in tandem with district-in-charge Ministers and MLAs while fielding candidates. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office-bearers, who are in charge of the districts, have been told to monitor the process of selection of candidates and campaign in each district.
DCC office-bearers have been instructed to make efforts to quell dissidence at the block and village level to ensure victory of party-backed candidates during the elections. Ministers have been told to spend maximum time in their respective districts till the end of the polls, sources in the party told The Hindu.
Officially, the party’s poll campaign would begin after a mega convention of the party to held on Saturday to mark two years of the Siddaramaiah government, in Davangere. Booklets on achievements of the government would be released there.
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Booklets and pamphlets would be given to the DCCs and the BCCs so that voters are informed about the achievements of the Congress government. The gram panchayat elections would help the party to strengthen its base further, Congress sources said.