‘Vote for what? We’ll boycott’
Ignored lot in Ranip to stay away from polls

The Gandhinagar constituency is not only about development, highrises and booming business of western suburbs of Abmedabad.

There is more to it: hunger, poverty and unemployment. And the mood of the electorate in less privileged areas like Indiranagar, Chharanagar and Marwari ni Chali is one of despair.

As many as 80 families of the Marwari ni Chali have decided not to exercise their franchise this time. All because, despite the constituency being the cynosure of all eves, no attention has been paid to the problems of the residents.

Although both the BJP and the Congress are trying hard to garner the support of masses, confusion prevails among the electorate on whom to vote for this time. The area has a population of 5,000 and comes under ward no. 1 of the Ranip Nagarpalika. However, according to the residents, the local councillor has also been unable to address their problems.

"He is also following his mentor’s footsteps -- forgetting the masses after getting elected." Kantibhai, a resident, said.

While the Pakistani intrusions in Kargil and Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s foreign origin are the major issues being projected by the political parties, the public is keen that basic necessities like public toilets and electricity be looked into.

"We have been voting every time with a hope that our problems will be solved one day, but it is yet to happen," Piloobhai Durbabhai, who owns a small provision store in Indiranagar, said.

Public toilets are a scarcity in this area and the fact that no political party is addressing such important issues has drawn the ire of the public. "It’s highly embarrassing for our women to defecate in the open, in view of thousands of passersby. Is it ridiculous to demand basic sanitation facilities?" Piloobhai asked.

The candidates, Mr T.N. Seshan and Mr L.K. Advani, have been going all around town with their entourages on their campaign runs. But, they seem to be "unaware or uninterested" in the problems. "I ran after Mr Seshan’s caravan but it sped away in no time. I was waiting with garland in my hands to honour him but the entourage did not stop." he added, when asked why he did not tell his problems to the Congress candidate who visited the area on Monday morning. In a country known for its democracy, it is indeed sad that the voting identification cards remain just that - cards. And not the means of ringing in change in your lives. Some keep the cards as their prized possession. However, they do not know whether they will bring any change in their life.

Compiled from Local News Media

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