RATHER THAN the attitude of voters, festivals are giving sleepless nights to election managers of various political parties before the civic polls.
A Congress delegation led by UPCC vice-president Satyadev Tripathi met additional election commissioner Vinay Priya Dubey and joint election commissioner PC Gupta. The delegation submitted a memorandum, urging the State Election Commission officials to change the election dates.
The Congress leaders said workers were celebrating festivals and had adopted a lackadaisical attitude towards the election campaign. In such a situation, the party would suffer, they said. Candidates would face problems in mobilising the voters, they added.
The election should be rescheduled to another date after Ramzan was over, the leaders said.
Bharatiya Janata Party leaders visited the State Election Commission office with the same request. The BJP leaders said voters were showing little interest in their campaign due to festivals.
“We wish to inform the voters about our achievements and the development projects launched in the city by our mayor, but voters are not ready to listen,” they said.
Members of various social and political organisations visited the SEC office with the same plea.
They told SEC officials that the election campaign was proving an expensive affair as the candidates had to distribute sweet and fruits to voters during festivals. Muslim candidates said they had to invite a large number of voters to Iftar parties.
{{/usCountry}}They told SEC officials that the election campaign was proving an expensive affair as the candidates had to distribute sweet and fruits to voters during festivals. Muslim candidates said they had to invite a large number of voters to Iftar parties.
{{/usCountry}}“Please postpone the elections, or else we will go bankrupt organising feasts for voters,” pleaded another candidate. Members of a social organisation urged SEC officials to hold the October 31 election on another date. The death anniversary of Sardar Patel would be observed on October 31, they said.
The SEC officials said the notification on the urban local bodies election and the dates were fixed on the direction of the Allahabad High Court and the State Government. Since holding the election was the constitutional responsibility of the State Election Commission, the election could not be postponed, they said.