The rural voters in Uttar Pradesh now treat the gram panchayat elections as a big festival and the notable feature is that the village women belonging to the remotest areas of the state take active part in the elections. In fact, these women are in the forefront of the campaign and not necessarily they were dictated by the views of their husbands or other senior members. One really sees how the village women have really been empowered and to what extent they are enjoying the financial powers given by the panchayats.

The level of participation was so large that in some places, the village officials could not finish voting within the scheduled time and the headlights of the jeeps were used to help the jubilant voters to cast their votes after evening. The administration never expected such a big turnout and the voters themselves showed exemplary manner in most places to ensure that all of them can cast their votes.

The positive aspect of the elections is substantial participation by highly educated young people including engineers, MBAs, doctors and lawyers. Many of them really want to serve the rural areas and take part in the developmental process of the country but at the same time, it is also true that huge funds being channellised through panchayats have influenced them to take the plunge. There is no dispute to the fact that some panchayat members are making money since in many places, the leaders rarely care for true audit of the funds spent.

According to figures given by the state election commission, out of total number of 13.14 lakhs candidates in these elections, the impressive number of 5.21 lakhs are women which accounts for 40 per cent of total candidates. Out of 3.15 lakhs candidates who got elected unopposed 1.32 lakhs are women which show their acceptability.

This time there are 4,74,876 candidates for gram panchayat members, 4,28,111 candidates for khetra panchayat members and 3,64,874 zila panchayat members. It is worth mentioning here that there are 51,914 gram panchayats in UP and as many as 17,559 post of gram pradhans are reserved for women. This time women who remain in 'parda” also came out of their houses to campaign for their family members and supporters. The elections virtually witnessed family war as members were contesting each other to grab key posts in gram panchayats.

There was gross violation of model code of conduct and huge funds for panchayats are being blamed for aggressive campaigning. Several ministers of Mayawati government and senior functionaries of the party occupying the position in the government were seen misusing their positions and power in these elections. Beside muscle power and vulgar display of wealth the candidates also indulged in sorts of allurements to win over the support of the voters. Money was openly distributed and liquor was made available to voters in villages.

Different type of brand liquor whether desi or videshi (country made or Indian Made Foreign Liquor) were distributed on the eve of polling. The brand of country made liquor named after bollywood actress 'bebo' and Katrina' were in great demand. There have been cases of deaths also due to illicit liquor being sold in areas in grip of panchayat elections. Although the administration had taken precaution in this aspect but even then it could not prevent such man-made tragedies.

In some place there was positive work done by the candidates including construction of roads and other facilities like more infrastructure to win over the support of voters. There have been series of mass food parties in villages to win over the support from voters. Although these elections are not being contested on party line but there have been cases of large scale violence and entire opposition joined hands to blame ruling BSP and Mayawati government for the collapse of law and order situation in the affected areas. Several persons lost their lives during first two rounds of elections and it was observed that people took the advantage of polls to settle old enmities.

Samajwadi Party said that in view of large scale violence bullets prevailed upon ballots in these elections. SP spokesman Rajendra Choudhry said all claims of chief minister Mayawati of conducting free and fair elections proved to be bogus as there was complete collapse of administration. He further alleged that there was gross misuse of official machinery to ensure victory of BSP supported candidates. He said DMs were misusing their positions and state election commission had been made ineffective. The spokesman said that the government officials were acting as agents of BSP which should be condemned.

Commenting on the prevailing situation CPI national secretary Atul Anjan said the manner in which there were cases of looting of ballot boxes and pitched battle between rival candidates in the presence of police in rural areas showed there was complete collapse of law and order situation at grass root level and Mayawati government had completely failed.

Mr Anjan said that there had been demand of holding these elections on party line as is the case in other states but Chief Minister Mayawati fearing split in her own party passed the order that elections for gram panchayat and local bodies would not be held on party line. He charged that under the directive of the chief minister Mayawati the official machinery was acting as polling agents of BSP supported candidates.

He also said that there was free flow of money by the BSP supporters in these elections and supporters of Congress and Samajwadi Party were also not behind. Mr Anjan said the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had given more power to panchayats for decentralization of democracy but it turned out to decentralization of corruption. (IPA)