MANGALORE : The 5500 gram panchayats in the state are set to go on a two phase polls. But what is being seen as of now is that the Panchayatraj Act is blatantly violated. Though the elections are supposed to be apolitical under the Act, none of the parties including the prominent Congress and the BJP are worried about the rule and are busy in getting their own candidates file nominations for the elections. The only difference is that they do not openly exhibit their party symbol anywhere. The Congress, BJP and the JD(S) have already issued statements that they would support their candidates. Though the gram panchayat elections are supposed to give power at the hands of the people at the grassroots level, in reality the political parties consider these elections as a prestige issue and aim at increasing their party’s strength. There is no doubt that political leaders use the gram panchayat elections as the stepping stone of their political careers. Even the ruling BJP in the state, has left no stone unturned in exerting his influence.
What does the EC say ?
Though the Election Commission has issued restrictions to the spending of candidates in assembly and corporation elections, it says the expenditure incurred by the GP candidates need not be taken into account as it is an apolitical election as per the existing rules.
If one keeps a closer watch on the funds poured by the prominent parties on their ‘recommended’ candidates, then one will surely be under the impression that this is by no means an election to a gram panchayat.
Still there is no dearth of active participation of political parties, flow of funds and liquor and also show of muscle power in the gram panchayat elections too !
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