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MCC polls : Political parties bring new promises, old assurances

MCC polls : Political parties bring new promises, old assurances


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, March 5, 2013: With elections to the local administrative bodies slated to be held on March 7, the results of the same are likely to be a clear political gauge on the voters mood ahead of the impending elections to the state assembly.

If the BJP rose to power for the very first time in the history of the MCC in the 2007 election, the results proved to be a great setback not only for the Congress party but also for its senior leader B Janardhan Poojari. Even the results of the Udupi CMC election turned  out to be against the Congress. However, this time there are all indications of the Congress making a comeback not only in Mangalore City Corporation but also in many other local administrative bodies in the district.

 

MCC Elections 2013


This time, the Congress had been more cautious than ever in choosing the candidates. The party had chosen to give tickets to newcomers by replacing three sitting corporators including a former mayor. At the same time in order to ensure social justice,  the party has  tried to give representation to  candidates of almost all communities and castes. Most of the tickets have gone to Billawas, Bunts and Muslims.

 That rebellion is minimal in the Congress this time, is a plus point for the Congress, while the ruling BJP is facing rebellion at several places.

This time, apart from Congress, BJP and JD(S) several parties  have fielded a total of 243 candidates. As of now, for the total 60 wards, the Congress and BJP have fielded 60 candidates each, JD(S) 48, CPI 1, CPI(M) 14, Independents 18, JD(U) 2, BSR Congress 14, SDPI 8, KJP 11, Welfare Party of India 6 and IUML -1


There is a possibility of the KJP, BSR Congress, JD(U)  spoiling the show of  the BJP to some extent. At the same time, the SDPI and Welfare Party of India candidates may add some trouble to the Congress party. Most of the independents in the fray are rebel candidates.

In the previous election, the CPI(M) and the JD(S) had bagged one seat each. It is now left to be seen  how the smaller parties like KJP, BSR Congress SDPI and WPI will play spoilsport in the victory of the  other parties.

Poll issues:  The ruling BJP has this time  chosen to highlight state and national issues rather than local issues. Its pamphlets mention about the scams in which the UPA and its allies are involved. The BJP handouts also enlist the achievements of the state government.

AICC Secretary Vinay Kumar Sorake says  that 24 out of the 25 assurances given by the BJP during the previous elections have remained merely on paper. The party has therefore raised national issues and was trying to land voters in confusion, he alleges. “But the voters are discerning and will teach a befitting lesson to the BJP,” Sorake exudes confidence.

As far as local issues are concerned, both the BJP and Congress are claiming the Tumbay vented dam and ADB Project as their achievements. The two parties have also indulged in mud slinging over SAS and  single site approvals.

The fact is that several longstanding demands of Mangalore like a full-fledged bus terminus, renovation of old market buildings have not been taken up.

Some political observers point out that just as the BJP  had given a long list of false assurances last time, the Congress manifesto too may follow suit.


However, any party once elected, never tries to keep a tab on its elected representatives and also monitor their activities. There have been instances in the past when some elected representatives had turned hostile due to change in ward reservation(this time however there has been no change in reservation). This time, the Congress if elected to power, has promised to form ward level committees.

The electorate is hoping  that this time too the parties would not cheat them as in the past, by giving colourful assurances. Probably, the formation of ward committees soon after election, is a solution to the same.
 


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