Berhampur: The poll schedule for urban civic bodies in the state has not been declared, but the ruling party and the opposition BJP have apparently drawn up their electioneering strategies to woo voters in Ganjam district. Members of both the parties have become active on the field.
The youth wing of the BJD has aimed at reaching out to the people by way of a digital drive. Such campaign will highlight a host of developmental and welfare measures and activities being implemented by the state government.
Ahead of this campaign, the BJD youth wing has formed committees in all wards of the Berhampur Municipal Corporation.
Meanwhile, a youth gathering was held at the residence of MLA Bikram Kumar Panda which urged party works to make this campaign a success. Party workers at the grassroots are being sensitised about the digital campaign.
On the other hand, the BJP has drawn up its strategy to counter the ruling party’s move. The saffron party has already set a “Chai Pe Charcha” campaign in motion in all 40 wards of the BeMC.
The party leaders and workers are organizing ‘Cha Khatis’ with local people at different places including Aska Road First Gate and various places in Gosaninuagaon.
The BJP leaders while sharing tea with people are sensitizing people to various welfare schemes, projects and financial contribution of the central government at ‘cha khatis’. They also get to know of the personal and civic body problems in various areas.
The BJP leaders are seen assuring people of taking up their issues with the administration for redressal. Development activities in urban areas have been more in focus now.
This indicates that the government is going to announce the poll schedules for the civic bodies soon. Officials and ruling party leaders have been routinely conducting reviews on the progress of development works in urban bodies in Ganjam.
MLAs and BeMC commissioners are visiting wards to take stock of the progress of development. Besides, the BJD is likely to play women card in the forthcoming civic body elections. SHGs are now in focus.
In the BeMC area, there are 200 SHGs with male members and 1,600 SHGs with women members. Each SHG has at least 10 members. Women SHGs have been roped in various civic body works like toilet maintenance, wall painting on the official buildings, Aahaar centres. SHG members are paid good remunerations.
For various civic body works, the BeMC has been provided crores of rupees in the first phase. Political circles observed that SHGs will pay a crucial role in the coming civic body polls. They also discuss on the strategies of the BJP to counter it.
Notably, in 2014 civic body polls in the BeMC, the BJD had won in 24 wards, Congress in 15 wards and one independent while the BJP failed to open its account.
PNN