A race for plum posts at grass-roots level

By Our Special Correspondent

PATNA, APRIL 6. It is all about becoming the Chief Minister. Not just an exclusive one, but in the thousands. And Ministers too in the plenty. Yes, the race is for the plum posts at the grass- roots level.

Chasing this dream are the lakhs who are contesting the panchayat elections aspiring to become its mukhiya or its member. The dream merchant, of course, is none other than the charismatic former Chief Minister and RJD President, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, who extensively campaigned in the State ahead of the panchayat elections being held in six phases commencing on April 11.

Mr. Yadav sought to take credit for the elections and the other objective of his campaign obviously to influence the outcome of the polls to his liking. He had exhorted the electorate saying that those getting elected to the post of the mukhiya would be the Chief Minister of the respective panchayat and its members, Ministers.

His single-handed canvassing indeed had its effect given the fact that more than 1 lakh are vying for the post of about 9,000 posts of mukhiya. There is little doubt that there is much at stake both politically and economically what with the panchayats having a coffer of their own.

While the elections are being held on a non-political basis, the truth is that all political parties are leaving no stone unturned to corner the maximum number of posts and seats. These posts mean a lot even to the first family of the State which yearns for some more Chief Ministers in the family.

According to reports, the Chief Minister, Mrs. Rabri Devi's father, is contesting the Mukhiya's post, so are her brothers, brother-in- law and the nephew of the RJD supremo himself. Should they succeed, the family will be raving three more Chief Ministers, controlling power at the lowest level too.

The mukhiya's post is being viewed as a prized and creamy one even by the other political leaders in the State and the strongmen too. That is one reason why just about 40 of them could get elected unopposed. Those who had been returned without a fight are mostly relatives of Ministers and legislators or local criminals.

There is perhaps no count of which politician has how many relatives in the fray. A former Minister is contesting for the post of mukhiya, and there are a number of legislators and Ministers who have fielded their wives for the post for the simple reason that they consider the post crucial.

The panchayat elections have put almost all the political parties in a predicament. On the one hand, they have not been able to actually contain their party workers from entering the contest and are more worried about their respective prospects. Each party is at a loss in making an assessment as to where exactly they end up.

But the real threat is from the tug-of-war among the local leaders, each of whom are claiming the support of their respective parties. This bad blood at the grass-root level threatens to take the party apart at the seams. As it is, office- bearers of the State units and the districts have been forced to curtail visits to the rural areas, not to speak of legislators and Ministers in an apparent bid not to take sides and lose their base.

The other talking point is the tie-up that political parties had tacitly arrived at for better results. If that is the case, the panchayat elections will surely lead to a fresh realignment of forces in the days to come.

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Section  : National
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