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| Municipal Council Udhampur - Macro analysis | | | Mahadeep Singh Jamwal | 11/22/2018 8:38:57 PM |
| It is said that the analysis of concepts is for the understanding nothing more than what the magnifying glass is for sight. It is rightly said that if you expect nothing from somebody you are never disappointed. But when in democracies we elect our representatives as ambassadors to ease our sufferings, we should have the patience to look for their efforts to fulfill the commitments doled out to the voters while seeking mandate. Generally we exercise our franchise on the vision document and promises generated by the seekers of the votes while campaigning door to door. Voters don't decide issues; they decide who will decide issues. Under these circumstances we are left only to wish them a success and great delivery. But when such elected representatives change their coins and sit into the lap of those, whose ideologies, way of working or their experience, education and what not had been kept in constant attack, and when their vision become diluted and influenced by the new set up, then it is the responsibility of the civil society to come up with the due expectation charter required for the betterment of the society. Before advancing the write up it is also my responsibility to apprise those accommodated upon the chairs that have not been comforted for appreciating power lust but for delivery to the society at the back of the authority, they have acquired through voters. The biggest challenge to the representatives is not to be affected by praise because a lot of it is not from the heart but just customary. Being true to self about our strengths and weaknesses, when everyone out there has a strong opinion and wants to give advice is another challenge for the new team that owes great responsibilities. Our responsibility as citizens is to expect our representatives to lead and to give them enough support so that they may deliver for which sent to the seats
At the backdrop of the above assertion my feature is restricted to the Municipal Council Udhampur. Prior to polling, we have observed that MLA (now Ex), BJP and NPP devoted its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to manage the Udhampur Municipal Council and independent were downgrading their opponents in individual wards. The polling results cleaned the picture and it cropped that the well executive of the council can be handled by NPP that secured six seats excluding those who have contested and won as independents with poll arrangement with NPP, followed by MLA (Ex) group five and BJP trailing much behind with just four municipal council seats. This also signaled that NPP has the acceptability and edge in the town as in spite of power houses i.e. sitting MLA (now Ex) and BJP but both power packed barrels failed to come to the top of the slot. But the key of final results as of getting President ship and Vice-President ship went into the hands of Independent. This situation was reimbursed by orchestrated move by Honorable MLA (Now Ex) and he managed the show by firstly ensuring his elected councilors joining the BJP and then the President ship of the Council for his family fold and Vice-President from BJP. The political run up testify that Udhampur MLA (Now Ex) has always been converting his independency status for power and paralyzed BJP that is always obsessed with power lust has been bowing before him that may be accommodating him as MoS in bygone BJP-PDP coalition government, during the election of Rajya Sabha member or the situation in hand by twisting the President ship of the Council in his favor and that too for his family. As such both commonly succeeded to maintain the joint edge through political gimmickry. A minute scrutiny of results for President and Vice-President, communicate the facts that Presidential candidate supported and liked by less 'king makers' than that of Vice-President as it was just a magic number of eleven that went into the kitty of President whereas thirteen councilors opted in favor of BJP candidate contesting for Vice-President. Here disapproval of more councilors goes in the backpack of the President (From erstwhile MLA group now on BJP platter) and less in the kitty of Vice-President (From BJP, joining it just before the ULB elections). We feel that elected President a thorough gentle, honest and apolitical person with history of health ailments at his back has been dragged into the murkier waters of the politics under created circumstances. But now he has to maintain the good health of the Udhampur Municipal Council that is considered as a body lying in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with multiple organ failure and requiring a balanced political surgery and medication. Prior to it a diagnosis of ailments of the town is must to prioritize the works to be taken in hind. Under the situation, if soft peddling attitude of the President of the council, fails to keep the whole flock in order, the Udhampur Council is likely to fall a trap of leg pulling, and ultimately it will be the populace of the town, the real sufferer. The first media statement of the President just after his declaration as so, failed to impact the citizenry as speaking of his first priority was of cleanliness drive forgetting that it is already in full swing, if we track to the Swatch Bharat Abhiyan. He failed to speak on most burning problems of the town such as: parking lots, huge dumping sites in the town, traffic jams in the town, much awaited waste management plant, alarming problem of influx of 'Rehri and Phari' that has shackled the whole town, welfare of Safai Karamcharies, land grabbing in the municipal area limits, encroachments, about beautification of the town, drinking water scarcity, and much projected CCTV circuit, much talked Devika development, and about un-planned constructions going on unchecked in the town. Moreover the mingling of MLA (Ex) group and BJP councilors, well dressed up by Ex - MLA and BJP hawks gliding from Jammu, for political gain and power lust, has been viewed at large as dishonor to the citizen, and the councilors carrying these feelings are going to put a hard slice before the head of the council. Here too we cannot brush away the investigative reporting finding space in print media that there is great resentment among the BJP party cadre over the tie up with Udhampur (EX) MLA. The party workers at the ground level have not digested the merger of his group councilors in BJP. This is not a healthy sign for President of Udhampur council to run up the show uninterrupted. We have to confess that still we have not realized the true meaning of democracy where for musical chairs; the heads are counted and left over have to contribute with constructive role. It becomes more difficult to run the show efficiently, when almost equal number is there to drag the feet. In the surfaced developments, there are lip murmurs about the future prospects of the (Ex) Independent MLA and BJP in the town as merger of Ex-MLA group councilors with BJP have left speculations about the prospective BJP candidate in ensuing assembly elections. Two stalwarts of barring groups fighting councilor's elections have already created a big void among the people on caste based community politics and think tanks in the communities are blaming them of divide and rule and befooling of citizens, when both group were having common intentions of grabbing the power. Come what may the more disturbing part is if such candidates who were seen getting their nomination forms filled through lawyers, if have penetrated into the council riding on the shoulders of the democracy, nothing much we should expect from the new council. The time will show up the picture. The new developments in the state of dissolution of assembly will definitely affect the functioning of councils and committees as those who were in power have managed the entry of their councilors by hook and crook and now no more are the god fathers of such fraternity holding any authority to protect their inefficiency, illiteracy and inexperience.
Concluding with the wishes that the citizenry of Udhampur will not be compelled by new establishment of Udhampur Municipal Council to speak the lines of Khwaja Haider Ali Aatish Lakhnawi that goes as: "Bohut shor sunte thae pehlu mein dil ka, jo cheera to ek qatra-e-khoon na nikla". |
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