In a much-lauded initiative, residents of different slums in the town on Tuesday held a public address to create awareness against selling of votes.
Under the banner of Karnataka Janashakti and Mandya Zilla Shramika Nivasigala Okkoota, they conducted the programme outside the Mandya City Municipal Council (CMC) on Bengaluru-Mysuru highway and requested voters to be cautious while electing representatives.
Most of the present/former members [of the last three terms] of the CMC have lost their credibility by neglecting the development of the town. Moreover, many had distributed liquor and money to win the elections, said Prakash, president, Mandya Zilla Shramika Nivasigala Okkoota. “Development cannot be expected from such representatives,” he said and appealed to people not to sell their votes for money offered by candidates during the August 31 local body polls. He said almost all former and present CMC members have failed to provide good roads, drinking water, streetlights and other basic infrastructure to slums in the town.
Siddaraju, of Karnataka Janashakti, levelled allegations against the present and previous members of indulging in corruption and therefore neglecting the development of the town.
Latha Shankar, of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, also requested the voters to uphold democratic values by exercising their franchise and not selling votes.