Local Bodies elections are essentially the basic
foundation of a democratic system, the kindergarten of politics of a free
society. Homegrown folks get a chance to
try their hand at politics in their neighborhoods among people individually
known to them, work for collective welfare and vital amenities, and, if they
have it in them, emerge as state and national leaders of the future. The most
important features of these elections are low key but personalized house to
house campaigns and fierce competition for each vote as the victory margin is
frequently in single digit. Being sort of a talent hunt, they attract a large
number of participants and usually have a festive aura much like a local sports
meet.
A large number of women candidates are contesting the
upcoming 28th April Dehra Dun Municipal Corporation elections as
twenty seats out of sixty are earmarked for them. While this reservation is to
ensure the participation of more ladies in our public bodies, more often than
not, political parties dole out tickets to the wives or female relatives as
stand-ins for the men they intend to field, rather than genuine deserving
candidates. In this respect BJP has been the only major party that has not
tried to circumvent the ladies seats by propping up proxies, but has, on the contrary,
fielded women candidates from ten general seats as well.
Women are, without doubt, more honest, sincere,
hardworking, dedicated and compassionate than men. At an election meeting I
happened to be present at, I witnessed a rare show of feminine large
heartedness, discipline and camaraderie. That of the sitting BJP legislator
Anuradha Garg, who found herself out of contention as the boundaries of her
constituency had been redrawn, canvassing vociferously and whole heartedly for
Anita Singh, her party’s candidate from her area West Patel Nagar (ward no. 54)
this time, instead of sulking or contesting as a rebel aspirant.
Congress, the other major political party, finds
itself on a sticky wicket. Unpopular decisions, like imposition of VAT on LPG
gas on one hand and its reduction on liquor on the other, taken by its
government in office in Uttarakhand, will surely cost it dear across the state.
Suryakant Dhasmana, the controversial candidate it has put up for the post of
Mayor of Dehra Dun, will most likely nullify any anti-incumbency factor that
BJP’s Vinod Chamoli would have faced under normal circumstances. Former mayor
Manorama Sharma, who was made to withdraw in favour of Dhasmana, would perhaps
been a better candidate.
BSP’s Rajni Rawat, who finished second ahead of the
Congress candidate and gave a scare to Chamoli in 2008 as an independent, is
the third big mayoral candidate in fray. It will be interesting to watch if the
BSP ticket will bring Rawat more votes than she secured last time on her own.
With barely a couple of days left for polling, Chamoli seems comfortably placed
ahead of others and looks set for a second term. All eyes would rather be on
the struggle between Dhasmana and Rawat for the second place!
In their bid to have their “yes men” down to the last
rung, “high commands” sitting in New Delhi are increasingly interfering in the
selection of candidates for local bodies, taking much of the sheen out of these
elections. Not only should there be no meddling from political bigwigs, but
even political parties should stay clear of such elections in order that all
candidates have a level playing field and civic polls maintain their essence of
the carnivals of democracy that they really are.
