PNS | DEHRADUN
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun is the biggest municipal corporation in Uttarakhand but 55.95 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the urban local body elections. More voters cast their vote in the polls for Municipal Corporation of Rishikesh with a percentage of 65.77. Observers state that various reasons including the failure of the past municipal representatives in doing the needful and general apathy of the public are responsible for the low voter turnout in Doon.
Social activist Anoop Nautiyal said that the voters were probably disappointed with past performance and disenchanted with the sytmtem. Talking to this correspondent, he said that the election process could have been managed better. He also called for a detailed investigation and report on the irregularities and mismanagement in the municipal elections, demanding that the shortcomings be identified and rectified for the future. He stated that the reports that have come to light clearly show that the State Election Commission adopted a highly irresponsible and careless attitude in conducting the elections. Given the chaotic nature of the municipal elections held yesterday, he presented three demands to the State Election Commission. He also expressed regret over the large number of missing names from the voter list. He said that this is a violation of people’s democratic rights, which cannot be compensated. The possibility that this may have affected the election results cannot be ruled out either.
Voters in various wards, especially in rural areas brought under the MCD said that they are not happy with the counsellor and the MCD. “We approached the councillor, the MLA and even the then CM- who was the MLA of this area, to get our road repaired.The councillor rejected us, telling us to go to the party we voted for, the MLA and the then CM agreed to our request but did nothing. We are disenchanted with this system,” said a citizen in a rural area brought under the MCD in the recent past.
