With the civic elections around the corner, candidates are gearing up to battle for each and every vote. Some are going to the extent of showering expensive gifts or offering to repair private roads, paint buildings or pay annual maintenance in return for votes. Even the educated middle-class seems to be attracted by these offers. Citizens Speak Up
Candidates are making lucrative offers in return for votes
With new age political parties jumping into the fray thereby splitting votes, conventional political parties are trying hard to ‘secure’ their traditional vote banks. Incidents of luring voters have been happening since decades. But this time, two new trends are being seen. One, the stakes have gone up manifold with bulk foreign trips, cash and expensive gifts being reportedly offered.
Second is a more disturbing trend as you get to witness the educated middle-class falling prey to such lures too.
Cases of candidates offering to pay bulk annual maintenance, paint buildings and construct private roads for high-rise apartments in return for votes are already making rounds. Either way, it is a very dangerous trend for democracy and election governing machinery must step up their vigil.
The educated middle-class vote, which is a ‘thinking’ vote, is the last bastion of hope towards restoration of real democracy. If this bastion too succumbs, goonda raj will prevail. It is said, “If we vote responsibly, we get the government we deserve. If we don’t vote responsibly, we still get the government we deserve.”
Girish Deshpande, spokesperson, Professionals Party of India
Candidates are on a gifting spree but they are doing it as an investment
The practice of luring voters has been going on for the last 3-4 months, since Diwali festival. Gifting firecrackers, sponsoring religious tours for a group of local people and giving expensive gifts to women when they are invited for haldi-kunku or during pujas, are some of the popular practices followed by these poll candidates. I have seen the practice of luring voters happening in the past elections, but now the difference is that they are doing it blatantly, spending crores of rupees. This malpractice must be stopped as this shows degradation of the political system.
The candidates are obviously on a gifting spree but they are doing it as an investment, which they will recover in manifold once they get elected. The citizens will witness these same candidates doing sub-standard work in the name of development once they get elected. The voters are the real judges of such practices and at the end, they must vote for the right candidate.
Vivek Velankar, coordinator, Pune Nagarik Sanghatana
We don’t encourage corrupt candidates
It is surprising that after Anna Hazare’s nationwide movement against corrupt practices, candidates for civic elections are trying to buy votes by giving gifts to vulnerable voters. In our area, there are 50 odd societies and so far no such incident has been reported.
Through our forum, we conduct meetings regularly and have directed our members not to encourage such candidates. We have prepared a charter of citizen demands, which has to be signed by the candidates who are contesting polls from our area. If he/she gets elected, then the person has stand by the commitment. I have heard about candidates luring voters by offering various gifts, especially in the city’s Peth areas.
Sushil Kumar, Secretary, NIBM Road Residents Forum
Candidates should work for welfare of people
The practice of luring voters is done by the candidates to gain people’s trust. I have no gifts to offer nor do I hold any functions to attract voters. I represent an area which comprises 60% slums and often I come across slum dwellers who ask for some special election gift. I tell the people in my area that I can start a free training camp or a health camp.
Candidates should work for the social welfare of people rather than giving expensive gifts. It will take time to stop this malpractice. There are those who vote because they are dependent on the government for their basic needs and the ones who don’t vote, are financially independent and think that their votes won’t affect their lives.
Jaya Banerjee, candidate
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