With the nomination filing process for sarpanch and ward member posts in the first phase of panchayat polls coming to an end, candidates are going all out to woo voters. Another season of mass lunches and lofty promises to different communities has started.
Contesting candidates have started asking eligible voters from their villages settled as migrant workers elsewhere to come back and cast vote in their favour. Migrants from Gulf countries are also being invited to campaign and vote in the elections.
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As the reservations were also confirmed, candidates are approaching local leaders and influential persons seeking their support. In certain villages with reservations for women candidates, male aspirants are fielding their wives, mothers or a female relative.
Unlike in the last elections, residents in several villagers this time round are trying to elect sarpanches unanimously in view of the attractive offers made by the State government and local MLAs. The government’s announcement of ₹10 lakh and ₹15 lakh from the local MLA constituency development fund seem to have influenced the villagers.
Residents in tribal hamlets, which have been made gram panchayats, are visibly attracted to the offer as they will get ₹25 lakh if their village with 300 to 500 population elects the gram panchayat governing body unopposed. Since they are new panchayats and have no income source, they are of the opinion that the money would give them a good beginning in developing their village and improving basic facilities.
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While the mood among TRS cadre is jubilant, the Opposition does not seem to be showing much interest in the local body elections as they are of the opinion that whoever wins the panchayat election will inevitably join the ruling party.