Hectic lobbying by cadre for local body poll tickets

As the state announced indirect election to the posts of mayors, in municipalities and municipal corporations, money power is on the fore in the districts surrounding Chennai. Some ministers have gone to the extent of openly telling party men that the posts are up for grabs to the highest bidder. The results however are not as they expected. Party men on condition of anonymity said “such a move will entail heavy expenses for the candidate as he/she has to win the councillor elections and then spend heavily again to garner support to win the mayor or top post.”

“The competition will be intense for panchayat president posts as this is the most powerful post, money wise,” a former panchayat president said. The state’s amendment to the act for ensuring civic polls based on the 2011 census figures has dealt a blow to women, many of whom planned to contest under the 50% reservation option. The AIADMK has started receiving applications on Friday. Meanwhile, the DMK has moved the court demanding “free and fair elections.”

PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss said that the present civic election has a lot of anomalies to sort out. So the SEC must announce a schedule with more time for the processes after the official announcement of the new wards segregation list.  He asked for more time as the SEC is yet to officially make public the recent segregation of wards according to the 2011 census and the fate of the 50 per cent reservation for women in the civic bodies is uncertain.   Moreover, he said, “It is learnt that the Governor has not signed the Bill for indirect election to the posts of mayors and other urban municipal chiefs. In that case the old system has to be followed. It will create confusion. Therefore, the civic polls must be held beyond 15 days from the date of release of ward segregation details,” Anbumani demanded.