Election fever missing

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18

Usual election fever seems to be missing this time ahead of the Municipal Corporation poll. It is evident from a low turnout at political gatherings, which mainly comprise of party workers and a few persons form the general public, and no visible poll atmosphere in the city, barring a few colonies and village areas.

Many residents feel it may lead to a lower voting percentage than the previous MC elections. Have people lost faith in the city’s political system? Have strict norms ordered by the Election Commission caused the difference? Is Covid to blame for the subdued enthusiasm among voters?

Former BJP MP Satya Pal Jain feels, “People are losing faith in the political system. Conflicting claims, allegations and counter allegations against each other have caused disinterest among people. Personal touch of political leaders is missing. Irrespective of political parties, leaders have become arrogant. One-to-one contact is also lesser as mostly text/WhatsApp messages are being used. Additionally, December 24 voting day follows holidays, so voting is also expected to be low.”

Echoing similar views, Hitesh Puri, chairman, Chandigarh Residents Association Welfare Federation (CRAWFED), says, “People have lost interest in the Chandigarh political system. There is uncertainty and they do not want to show who they are supporting. When candidates of different parties come for canvassing in a locality, people are avoiding coming out. Otherwise, there used to be rush in parks and streets. There used to be many drawing room meetings.”

The federation head also feels, “People have realised there is no strong political system in the city as councillors have no power and the bureaucracy rules. The councillors are only a recommending authority to the UT Administration, which has its own ways. Five years have seen five mayors, senior deputy mayors and deputy mayors each. Also, this time voting will be held on Friday. I fear voting may go down to 50 per cent.”

RK Garg, president of the Second Innings Association, a city-based senior citizen, comments, “I think residents now have no interest in the civic body elections. The reason being this is just a vote politics and the public issues always take a back seat. The voice of people is not heard and their problems are not addressed. There is no mass leader who can take people along. People are not very happy to come out with their choice freely. It will affect voting too.”

A resident of Sector 19, Gyan Chand Dadhwal, who has been closely observing city politics for a long time, adds, “We should appreciate the fact that the Election Commission this time has set strict norms, which has curbed the usual poll noise. That is why big rallies have been replaced with door-to-door campaigning.”

A resident of the Panjab University campus said, “There is no MC poll atmosphere in our area. People have little interest in the elections.” Admitting that people are fed up with allegations and counter allegations, Chandigarh Congress president and former Mayor Subhash Chawla, said, “You see even at star campaigners’ public gatherings, there is not much rush. There are a few reasons for the subdued political atmosphere such as Covid, board examinations and election commission’s rules which say there will be no campaigning after 7 pm, no road shows and there will be a cap on gatherings.”

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