Panchayat polls looming,govt plans blitzkrieg of fairs for poor

After a week-long Diwali break,officials will be busy planning for these melas,which are being seen as a surrogate campaigning for the BJP on the eve of the panchayat polls due later in November.

The state panchayat and rural development department is meticulously planning the melas in order to time them in that part of the day when temperatures are bearable. At least 18 to 22 melas will be organized in a day at different places in the state on November 3-22,days before the state election commission puts out the notification for polls to around 10,200 village panchayats in the state.

The melas will be held between 4 pm and 6 pm to avoid putting up domes and making elaborate arrangements for the comfort of the political leaders and bureaucrats participating in the event. The state government had faced a lot of flak for the huge expenses incurred in hosting these melas in the earlier round last year.

The state election commission has started the electoral process for 10,231 village panchyats out of the total of 13,000 village panchyats in the state. Around two-third of the state’s voters (around 2 crore) will participate in this election. Around one lakh members (including Sarpanchs) will be elected and three-four lakh persons may contest the elections. The term of present bodies will end on December 31.

A senior official of the state’s panchayat and rural development department said,“On the first day,there will be 22 melas,which would be attended by ministers including the CM and top state officials.”

State Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Narottam Patel had earlier said dole-outs worth Rs 3,000 crore would be distributed during melas this month.

Last year,the BJP had won almost 80 per cent of the local bodies in districts and talukas,besides winning six municipal corporations in the state. Chief Minister Narendra Modi had attributed the victory to GKMs.

Around 65 schemes for BPL families,women,SCs/STs,students and the handicapped are included in GKMs,during which the state government hands out benefits like residential plots,houses,widow pension,scholarships,tricycles etc.

State BJP president R C Faldu said state BJP workers would actively help intended beneficiaries by informing them about various government schemes and helping them getting benefits during the melas.