Cites lack of knowledge and non-inclusion of housing societies, middle class on their agenda at pre-poll meetings.
Members of the National Society for Clean Cities (NSCC) on Saturday thrashed out at the results of the recently-held municipal elections at Pune Municipal Corporation’s Wadke Hall questioning the ability of the candidates elected to power.
“There are 82 new faces and 75 women have been elected from various wards. But is it enough to celebrate? Are we happy with the quality of candidates elected?,” asked Satish Khot, president, NSCC, leaving the floor open for discussion. Recalling their experience in various wards, the local mohalla committee members said that most candidates did not show much interest in pre-poll meetings organised to apprise the aspirants of voter expectations.
“In our ward, 14 of 22 candidates in fray attended the meeting, but all they spoke about was slums and slum dwellers. The housing societies and the middle class were not on the agenda of even one candidate. This is indicative of what we should expect in the coming five years. However, if we need to get the work done, we have to build bridges. And if we feel that they are not knowledgeable, let us educate them,” said a Vimannagar resident.
All members present applauded the idea promising to hold individual sessions with elected corporators to educate them on local issues and voter expectations.
A Kondhwa resident suggested that the NSCC start working five years in advance to ensure that the right candidates get elected.
“At the pre-poll meetings, only three candidates turned up, two of which were women. They refused to speak and their husbands wanted to talk to the electorate saying that they were the real workers and their wives were contesting only because the reservation was for women. Among the candidates, some were standard IV fail students, who had entered politics for the first time. What kind of governance will these unqualified people provide? If we want educated people to get elected, let us start work to recognise such people five years in advance,” he said.
An important suggestion was put forth by Model Colony resident Vinay Pai, who said that the NSCC must network with other NGOs to create consensus over the need for NOTA, i.e. ‘none of the above’, option to reject unwanted candidates.
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