Distressed villages soak in festive spirit

Parigi: Despite the scanty rainfall and depleting water levels that affected the agriculture in the season, festivals are being celebrated with usual fervour and enthusiasm in the villages.

Thanks to the timely polls, this successfully eased the conditions in the villages. Major festivals coinciding with the elections could provide a little help to the villagers. In fact, elections bring festive mood in the villages. When elections come during festival seasons, it’s a grand gala event for the villagers.

The process of state Assembly elections was commenced at the time of Diwali festival. The announcement of candidates by ruling party stirred the election fever in the respected areas. Aspirants from other parties also kick started the campaign much earlier.

Parties and feasts in the villages reminded the festive season until the elections were over. Some candidates supplied liquor and meat to the doorsteps of voters during the season. All these activities gave relief and took away some stress from the villagers who are faced with agrarian crisis and other difficulties.

Now, the Gram Panchayat polls are coinciding with Sankranthi, the harvest festival, which has a prominence in rural area. The proximity of the Panchayat elections turned the things in favour to the villagers.

Overspending and distribution of liquor, meat and dinners are being witnessed in the season. Contestants are offering money to the voters for purchasing cloths and other things for the festival.

They are trying to lure the voters with gifts and money. It is being discussed widely that the financial damage of the villagers is covered by the poll expenditure of the contestants.

- Md Wajid