With long wish list,first-time voters want their councillors to deliver the goods

Like Meeta Sharma,a number of youths who voted for the first time had a long wish list. They mostly preferred young candidates,seeking a clean administration.

The first-time voters hoped not only would the candidates improve the overall public infrastructure in the city by getting repaired the potholed roads and developing parks,but would also pay attention to the demands of the youths like setting up of public libraries and multi-sports facilities. “The candidate who would act promptly on the problems of the people deserves to be the member of the Municipal Corporation,” added Meeta.

Nimit Gambhir,21,voted for a slew of reasons. “We don’t have a playground in Sector 10. Once elected,the candidate should develop one on priority. There is a need to set up a multi-facility sports complex in the sector as the youths are not allowed to play in parks.”

“I expect my candidate to attend to the problems of the ward on priority. In our sector,the crime rate is very high. Thefts and snatching cases have become common. Extra police force needs to be deployed to check crime incidents,” said Nimit. “The maintenance of parks is not proper in our sector. In the market area there is no proper traffic regulation and also there is a lack of proper parking facility which creates a mess.”

Twenty-two-year-old Anil Bhardwaj,a resident of Sector 20,said the candidate should attend to the problems of youths on priority.

Vinod Kumar,21,from sector 20,said he voted with the hope that the elected member would take measures to create avenues of employment for youths. “The unemployment level is very high among youths,and we want a candidate who can create avenues of employment. Also,in our area there is a huge problem of sanitation as the sanitation employees don’t come on time due to which the garbage remains littered on the roads. We want that the candidate attends to these problems with urgency.”

Twenty-year-old Ravinder Singh of Raila village expects that the elected member from his ward attends to the slew of problems that the residents face. “There is not only the need for attending to the routine problems of broken roads and shortage of public infrastructure facilities but also the requirement for creation of facilities for youths.”

‘We will get absolute majority’

Congress

Congress MLA from Panchkula D K Bansal said Sunday’s vote was an indication of mass approval of the policies and developmental programmes initiated by his party. “In the last three years,Congress carried out the developmental works of over Rs 300 crore. The voters came out in large numbers to vote in favour of the Congress. We will get absolute majority and we are confident that the Mayor of the city will be from our party. The Congress- supported candidates will win with a thumping majority.”

BJP

District President of BJP Vishal Seth said the polls were free and fair. “There were only minor incidents of bogus voting. We feel that the polls were free and fair today. There is no need to go for re-poll in any of the wards.”

INLD

District urban president,Panchkula,Manoj Aggarwal said that the party would bag at least 12 out of the 20 wards. “We are confidant that the Mayor will be from our party. Dissensions within other parties will work in favour of INLD,” he added.