Parties take final stab at wooing voters

​Hyderabad: With electioneering set to end on Wednesday evening, political parties are making last-ditch attempts to woo people to vote for them. It will be a triangular fight among the TRS, People's Front and the BJP in a majority segments with rebel candidates to pose a tough challenge in some constituencies.

When we talk about candidates reaching out to individual voters, the TRS is ahead of its rivals just for the fact that its candidates were declared nearly three months ago (September 6) which meant they had ample time to cover the last voter in their constituency. Some candidates were said to have visited each village three times in the last 90 days as part of the extended campaign.

The People's Front and the BJP, on the other hand, prolonged candidates’ announcement until the last day of withdrawal of nominations (November 19) leaving just over two weeks for contestants to campaign. Although most of them went on an overdrive to cover all divisions in their constituency, most of them are depending on cadre and booth-level workers to reach out to voters.

However, with less than two days left for the campaign to end, challenge before election authorities is to curb illicit flow of liquor and cash distribution to bribe voters. Police have stepped up vigil and inspection of vehicles in all districts leading to seizure of unaccountable cash of over Rs 104 crore in this election alone. The cash seized is Rs 28 crore higher than the amount seized in 2014 that was held for the last time in combined Andhra Pradesh state.

Though the Election Commission has said that it had stemmed the overt distribution of cash, luring of voters with cash in last one-two days remains a regular and known strategy of all contestants. Parties in People's Front have alleged that the TRS had sprinkled money in elections, like water, to influence voters.

They also stated that KCR election meetings in all districts were utilized by party cadre to lure voters with different benefits thus mobilizing crowds in huge numbers. Even the public meeting in Parade Grounds on December 2 was no different. Large crowds were mobilized at short notice and each of them were given monetary benefit directly, alleged leaders from rival parties. As far as the People's Front is concerned, it has been widely reported that the TDP, which is in power in Andhra Pradesh, would be taking care of election costs, including publicity in media, contestants’ individual costs.

TRS leaders repeatedly stated that Chandrababu Naidu has agreed to spend Rs 1000 crore to ensure the victory of the Congress and TDP candidates. However, Congress leaders said that they had not received any fund assistance. When it comes to the BJP, it is believed that the saffron party is focusing the most in 15 segments, where it senses winning chances or giving a tough fight to the opponents. Candidates in these segments were given party aid to cope up with expenses to some extent.

Apart from inducements, the leaders who were busy with campaign until now are looking towards booth management. According to party sources, the leaders are now focusing on how to convince the voters.
As far as the city is concerned, the candidates depend on the booth level party workers as they would be the link between the candidate and the residents. Sources said that the booth-level party workers are given money depending upon the capacity of the booth level party workers.

Already, the candidates have given the first instalment and by election time they would get second installment, said a senior leader from ruling party. The second focus of the pink party is on women groups. The party leaders said that the advantage with the women groups is that the voting would be as expected. “The women groups are given money a day or two before the election.

The woman group head would be the person who would be taking the responsibility of the group and ensure voting as per the plan,” said the TRS leader. In the mass areas, where the voters are from marginalised communities would be given money, the TRS leader added.