National parties’ preference for rich candidates in municipal polls irks aspirants
Congress and BJP legislators are reportedly favouring financially strong aspirants for upcoming municipal polls, asking candidates to invest lakhs to secure tickets. The trend has disappointed grassroots leaders, with many struggling to mobilise funds or reconsider their political future
Mancherial: The Congress and the BJP are reportedly preferring financially strong aspirants for the upcoming municipal polls, rather than considering their popularity or commitment to public service. Legislators from these parties are said to be insisting that aspirants can contest only if they are willing to invest between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 40 lakh, a trend that has irked economically weaker candidates.
Activists and leaders of both the Congress and the BJP had worked hard for the success of their parties in the Assembly and gram panchayat elections. They had pinned hopes on legislators, expecting their contributions to be recognised while allotting tickets for the ensuing municipal polls. However, they are now facing disappointment, with the same legislators showing a clear inclination towards fielding only affluent candidates.
An MLA is learnt to have told aspirants to keep at least Rs 30 lakh ready if they wished to contest the elections, stating that tickets would be given only to those capable of investing the amount. He reportedly asked financially weak aspirants to stay away from the polls, citing the heavy expenditure involved in contesting municipal elections.
Another legislator is said to have told aspirants that political parties might or might not fund candidates during the polls. As a result, financially weaker aspirants were advised to stay away from the electoral fray. This blunt advice has pushed many candidates into a dilemma. Several aspirants are said to be deeply disappointed and are even contemplating shifting loyalties, if required, shocked by the legislators’ preference for wealthy contestants.
In a similar instance, one of the national parties is said to have asked aspirants to deposit Rs 10 lakh if they were interested in contesting from a municipality. Aspirants expressed displeasure over what they described as a growing tendency among legislators to field only affluent candidates. They opined that their grassroots contributions appeared to have little value, given the overriding importance being accorded to financial capacity.
Meanwhile, aspirants are reportedly pledging assets to mobilise funds required for the elections. They are approaching real estate agents, expressing willingness to mortgage agricultural lands and house sites to arrange money in advance. Many are also agreeing to take loans at exorbitant rates of interest from agents and informal sources to meet the financial demands of contesting the municipal polls.
