Makkal Needhi Maiam to contest local body elections

The Makkal Needhi Maiam will contest the local body elections in the State, party founder Kamal Haasan said here on Tuesday.

Addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of a mock ‘gram sabha’, Mr. Haasan said though a tool called local governance had been with the people for close to three decades, they had failed to make optimum use of it.

Answering queries on whether the party would contest if the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission announced the local body elections, Mr. Haasan said: “Absolutely. That is what we are aiming at.”

Mr. Haasan urged all the District Collectors to ensure meetings of the gram sabhas in all the villages in the State on May 1, January 26, August 15 and October 2. “The gram sabhas are the strength of the villages. Political considerations and vested interests have disrupted their functioning. Even in the Cauvery issue, Parliament could be made to respond if all the gram sabhas resolve to find a solution.”

Pointing to the availability of a huge corpus of fund for local governance in all the 12,524 villages, Mr. Haasan said each of the villages get funds ranging from ₹1 to ₹5 crore per year. “There is so much money. So the people should know what is happening. Any aspect relating to a village can be discussed at the gram sabha, which comprises voters from the villages concerned. The decision taken by the gram sabha should be accepted by the government if it is as per the statutory provisions.”

Citing examples of gram sabhas that had opposed major infrastructure projects and won legal battles, Mr. Haasan said Kuthambakkam village on the outskirts of Chennai was proposed as a dumping ground for municipal solid waste from the city. “The villagers decided not to allow the project as it would have polluted the village. Finally, the villagers won the legal battle. The proposal was dropped,” said Mr. Haasan, congratulating the villagers.

“Industries and major infrastructure projects should be implemented only after the villagers concerned agree [to the projects]. Villagers also want growth, jobs and development. But the project should not pollute the village. Gram sabhas do not have to permit major projects at the cost of precious lives,” said Mr. Haasan.

Participants at the mock gram sabha spoke about civic issues faced by residents in various districts in the State.

Urging all residents of villages and wards in urban areas to promote local governance, Mr. Haasan said: “Please help us forge a new Tamil Nadu.”