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BMC Polls: Candidates woo voters with promise to pay society bills

Many residential complexes are cashing in on the opportunity by putting forward their demands

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Candidates find it difficult to please voters from residential societies as compared to slum dwellers — Pic for representational purposes only
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Ahead of BMC elections, candidates are leaving no stone unturned to please the voters. They are wooing them through various means such as paying maintenance bills for housing societies, or promising various amenities. Voters too are cashing in on the opportunity by placing their demands before such candidates.

Interestingly, one of the candidates in the western suburbs has agreed to pay the maintenance bill for an entire society, from a period of two to five years. For those whose maintenance amount is high, promises are being made to lay good quality paver blocks, fencing of compound walls, CCTV surveillance, jogging track, equipment for garden within the residential complex and benches for senior citizens.

"Mind you, such decisions are taken by managing committees of the society and all members have agreed to the decision," said a party worker, who did not wish to be named.

Sources claim that asking for votes from slums is much easier than seeking it from residential societies and complexes. "In slums, there are regular programmes like haldi kumkum and Satyanarayan puja, apart from festivals like Ganeshotsav and Navratri. This gives a chance to political leaders and aspiring candidates to come and express their gratitude towards the voters. However, it is not the same case with residential societies. They have bigger plans and bigger budget, which makes it difficult for candidates to manage, but there is no choice," said a party worker.

In Dahisar, a candidate, who was an office-bearer of a political party had arm-twisted the shopkeepers when civic authorities had undertaken the work of widening roads in the area. The shopkeepers went beyond the permissible height limit and this political leader used this as an opportunity to collect money from these shopkeepers. "However, last week he handed over Rs 20,000 to each shopkeeper and promised to return the remaining amount if he got elected," said a resident.

However, there are affluent complexes where these incentives do not seem to make a difference. "Residents wouldn't mind spending for the welfare and well-being of the complex on their own. However, what is needed is proper parking facilities, removing bottlenecks on the approach road from the Western Express highway, illegal hawkers and well maintained playground," said an office-bearer of a plush residential complex.

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