It's celebration time for voters in Maharashtra, with candidates and their local party organisations spending well to woo them.
Distribution of CCTV camera systems (costing about Rs 6 lakh each), sets of gymnasium instruments (Rs 7-10 lakh each), sports kits (Rs 10,000 to 30,000 each), low-priced smartphones (Rs 1,999 to Rs 3,000 each) are all on. With Navaratri and Dussehra on this Friday, varieties of sweets and grocery items are also being disbursed. Money is also being distributed for items such as garden development, mainly landscaping (Rs 8-10 lakh each).
In some cities and semi-urban areas, functionaries of housing society apartments and cooperative societies are demanding candidates pay for two years of annual maintenance or for painting the facade (Rs 7 to 10 lakh each).
And, there's much focus on women voters. ''In rural and semi-urban areas, parties are reaching out to self-help groups (SHGs) by providing Rs 25,000 each. SHGs are well organised and candidates hope to book the votes of SHG members en masse. Besides, distribution of sarees, mixers and other domestic appliances is done. Women are also sent on pilgrimages by giving Rs 1,000 to 3,000 each,” an independent who is contesting from the Marathwada region told Business Standard.
In drought-prone areas, candidates are giving money (Rs 50,000 each) for digging borewells, so that voters from that area will not have to wait for the relevant government department to do so, a time consuming affair.
A candidate nominated by a national party says some voters are getting gold and silver ornaments, such as rings or chains, besides idols of various Gods and Goddesses, made of silver.
A regional party leader says candidates have to shell out Rs 25,000 per dhaba to organise non0vegetarian food and liquor. “There are 20 to 40 such dhabas in groups of villages where locals and party workers go and wine and dine. Two goats cost Rs 20,000,” he added.
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