Political party plans

With the pmc election round the corner, the political parties are busy releasing their manifesto.

Though there is no drastic change in the proposals that they have made, it certainly has gained importance as there is a strong competition amongst the political parties to include the hot issues of the city in their manifesto.  Cityplus, this week takes a quick review of the political scenario in Kondhwa - Wanowrie.

Tussle between corporators and their kin
This election, citizens can witness a strong competition between sitting corporators and their kin in Kondhwa.
In NIBM (Kondwa) - Shinde Chhatri (Wanowrie), there is a strong competition between Shiv Sena-BJP-RPI Alliance candidiate, Tanaji Lonkar and son of present corporator Ratnaprabha Jagtap, a Nationalist Congress Party candidate, who are contesting election from Prabhag 61 (B).
Prashant Jagtap and Nanda Lonkar were the first ones who were given tickets by the party. They are contesting from the same panel (Prabhag 61). While, there has been no candidature announced from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the vacant seat has been lying with Shiv Sena.

1,181 candidates in fray
Total of 1181 candidates will be in fray for the 152 seats of PMC election scheduled on February 16.
Pravin Ashtikar, election officer of PMC said, "Over 4033 nominations were submitted, out of which 3729 forms were held valid after scrutiny. After completion and withdrawal of forms, 1181 candidates have finally remained in the fray. On an average, each ward will see a battle among eight candidates to secure a seat."
"Many candidates had filled more than one form, out of which only one form was held valid. 479 candidates will slug it out from A ward, while 702 candidates will fight from B ward," Ashtikar said. 
Over the 8,000 forms were sold. The sale and submission of forms was done at 14 ward offices. The counting will take place on February 17.

Party manifesto
Congress:
Political parties are in hurry to release their manifesto. A false pledge of fulfilling the demands, say a few. 
Indian Nationalist Congress (INC) recently released their manifesto, pledging that the party candidates would bring about a wholesome change in the development of the city. The agendas include providing adequate water supply to all areas in the city and treating over 52 crore litre of water in the next two years, building flyovers and sub-ways to ease traffic congestion, increase in public transport, develop several gardens in city, develop Pune as an educational hub, providing several employment opportunities, setting up of several hospitals, building of cultural halls, women empowerment. In the 1992 elections, the Congress had given 33 per cent reservation to women for the first time. Now with 2012 elections, the reservation has gone up to 50 per cent that would set a new benchmark for women empowerment. 

Shiv Sena:
Concretisation and widening of lanes and bylanes, installation of storm water drainage lines, laying of underground cables all around. Setting up Self Help Group for Women, to impart vocational training courses providing employment opportunities, construction of permanent houses to slum dwellers through Slum Rehabilitation (SRA)  Scheme and Providing Employment Opportunities to Youth, by setting up, Ota Market, Mutton market and shopping centre.
 
Maharashtra Navnirnan Sena:
Adequate water supply, 24-hour emergency medical services, pension scheme for senior citizens, prime importance to solve water scarcity issues, road development, electricity, etc. installing storm water drainage in slums, nullah channelisation, etc. 

How to vote?
Pravin Ashtekar, Election Officer and Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Special), Pune Municipal Corporation, shares how to vote this election. In the PMC general election 2012 , in a total of 76 wards, there are 1177 candidates in the fray.  The candidates placed in 'A' and 'B' categories have also been decided. There are 479 candidates in 'A' and 698 candidates in 'B' fighting the election.
In the election 'A' category, candidates will have their names on white paper while the 'B' category, candidates will have their names on light pink paper. Where there is  a maximum of 14 (including both A and B categories) candidates - in 41 places - a single ballot unit will be used. Similarly, where A and B categories add up to a maximum of 29 - in a total of 31 places - 2 ballot units will be brought into use. Similarly, where there are more than 29 candidates, 3 ballot units will be used. All voters in Pune should use their voting rights for both A and B categories and exercise their vote for both. For A category, candidates the voter should cast his vote once on the white category buttons. Similarly, the voter should cast his vote once for B category candidates on the light pink category buttons. If the voter only votes once, the Election Officer will request him to vote in the second category also. Otherwise, he may take the permission of the officer to press the End button. All voters should take note that there is no provision, whatsoever, for 'No Vote'. If there are any doubts about these instructions, voters can call the PMC Election Helpline at 92253 20011. PMC urges you to exercise your valuable right to vote on Thursday, 16 February, between 7.30 am and 5.30 pm.

Urge to vote
Resident's Forum of Wanowrie and NIBM Road had organised a rally to urge citizens to vote this election. A release issued by the Forums said that "the right citizens thinking citizens should cast vote this time, to have a clean representative to rule the city."
Several residents from Kondhwa, Wanowrie, Fatima Nagar and NIBM road took part in the rally creating awareness among people to exercise the right to vote on February 16. Rally kicked off from Big Bazaar at following route from Shinde Chhatri and ended at Nivedita garden, near Anandpur Charitable Trust by evening via Sunshree Chowk. 

List of candidates
Prabhag 46
Wanowrie Gaothan - SRPF
Group A
Kavita Shivarkar:
Indian National Congress
Kasbe Ramdas Mahadev:
NCP
Group B
Satish Londhe:
Indian National Congress
Jambhulkar Saroj Dilip:
NCP
Prabhag 61
Shinde Chhatri (Wanowrie) - Kondhwa
Group A
Neha Sahil Kedari
Nanda Lonkar
Jyoti Shevate
Group B
Sudam Jambhulkar 
Prashant Jagtap
Nationalist Congress Party
Tanaji Lonkar:
Shiv Sena + BJP + RPI Alliance

Vote in large numbers
PMC Elections 2012, on February 16
Issued in Public Interest by NIBM Road Residents Forum And Wanawadi Residents Forum
Exercise your right, choose wisely and vote in large numbers.

Sign Citizens Charter!
Wanowrie Residents Forum and NIBM Road Residents Forum have jointly organised a programme of signing Citizens Charter from the aspiring candidates contesting for the PMC elections this year.
The programme will be held at Nivedita Garden Club House, near Anandpur Charitable Trust, off NIBM road, Kondhwa at 5 pm. Candidates from Ward 45, 61, 62 will be attending the programme.

--Renuka Suryavanshi