Candidates hope to make the difference

Tara, an electrical and electronics engineering graduate, has thrown her hat for the Sridhargadde gram panchayat elections. Ms. Tara, who works as a lecturer in Sanjay Gandhi Polytechnic College here, is contesting from ward number one, which is reserved for women in Jalibenchi village in Ballari taluk.

The village has six seats.

“I was pained to see that our village continues to be in a state of neglect. It remained underdeveloped even after the Panchayat Raj system came into existence with powers delegated to the people. Grants that came were not properly used for the benefit of the people. With this background and to try my best to develop the village, I decided to jump into the election arena,” Ms. Tara told

The Hindu .

Mahesh, who became visually impaired after an accident, is trying his luck for the second straight time. Last time, he lost the election by 17 votes.