MC Elections in Punjab – Need to differentiate between real facts and wrong perceptions

Need to restore the status of Municipal Councilors as City Fathers and government should not discriminate with the elected candidates while allotment of funds irrespective of any party.

 

The state municipalities are classified in 5 different groups (A B C and E) on the basis of population. For A Group, 35 wards having above 2.15 lac populations, B Group 30 wards with above 1.70 lac but not exceeding 2.15 lac, C Group 25 wards with above 85,000 but not exceeding 1.70 lac, D Group 20 wards with above 35,000 but not exceeding 85,000 and E Group 15 wards, not exceeding 35,000 populations.  In the municipal areas minimum number of wards has been fixed to 9. A total of 28.5 lakh voters would be eligible to vote at 2062 wards.

There was a time, when Municipal Councilors used to called as City Fathers and a person with unanimous selections was sent to the Municipal Council body from the particular ward but from the day the politics have entered in these elections, the importance of MC elections too have got the colours of politics.

The irony is that because of internal disunion among the sworn alliance of Akali and BJP in the Punjab State, the candidates of both these parties are even contesting against each other at certain places.  No doubt, the Bharitya Janata Party (BJP) has got the extra confidence after the formation of government at the centre led by Narendera Modi but it looks that BJP now wants to try its hands in politics independent all over the country including Punjab.  One cannot hesitate to even say that BJP is secretly making out a strategy to prepare itself to contest 2017 Assembly elections.  However, during the Assembly elections, Akali and BJP are contesting the MC and NP elections, jointly after having a compromise over the seat sharing formula.

These arrangements look to be strong alliance of  Akali-BJP but with the daring incidents of Tarn Taran and Guruharsahai are witness to it that Akalis want to maintain their supremacy over BJP and other political parties.

If we talk about the Congress, it has lost its image and confidence after the complete sweep at the Centre with the formation of Modi government during Parliament elections and for not opening its account during the Assembly Elections.  BJP too could get only three seats and all speculations of exit polls and political pundits were failed.  It becomes certain that to revive its position both by Congress and BJP is not going to improve in the coming two-three elections.

The politics in MC & NP elections have a deep entry in Punjab that the ruling party – Akali – is twisting the coins by adopting various measures including the re-demarcation of wards and declaring reserve wards, suitable to its own candidates fielded to contest the elections.

Both the major parties – Akali and BJP in Punjab  – could not finalize its candidates list even upto to the last day of filing of nomination papers which clearly indicates that tug-of-war is going on between the parties over the seat sharing and fielding of candidates, the result of which will not be in their favour and for the development of the cities.

In case this attitude continues for more some time, the day is not far when Aam Aadmi Party – AAP – will be in a position to establish its identity before the coming elections.  Not only this, AAP leaders have confirmed that Kejriwal has taken a decision not contest the MC and NP elections but has not banned to support the right candidates irrespective of the party and they are seen supporting certain independent candidates.

It has also been seen that Congress party, one of the oldest political party, too had to take its time and work hard, for the selection of candidates for the MC & NP elections.  Not only this, certain seasoned and senior Congress leaders being fed up from the Akali-BJP politics in Punjab, have decided to keep themselves away from the dirty politics. One can say, they are contesting as a formality for the party sake.

So far as reserved wards for women are concerned, the most interesting factor is that they are hardly involved in the process of elections as right from getting ticket, campaigning to having say in the Councils depend upon their better-halves or nearest relatives who are active in politics.  It raises a question as to where the Women empowerment has gone ?  The old timer women are less qualified while the young education class is not interested in politics and those interested, cannot fit themselves in dirty games.

It is also seen that at the time of allotment of funds, normally the non-ruling party candidate’s areas are ignored for allotment of development funds.  According to them it may be politics but it is against the ethics so far as the development of cities are concerned.

Frankly speaking, to restore the status of Municipal Councilors as City Fathers, there is need of representation of honest, hard working and education class keeping aside the politics, who may think about the development of the country, society and city with new ideology.  There is a need to differentiate between ground level realities and wrong perceptions.  The government should not discriminate with the elected candidates of the particular party while allotment of funds for the development of the city.