In Nasirabad, family votes will decide ward winners

Jaipur: Candidates aiming to win elections from different wards of the newly formed Nasirabad municipal council, family members will take the call.

The strength of voters in the wards of the municipal council range between 18 and 129. In some wards, 50 per cent of the voters belong to the candidates' families.

“From this house to the seventh house in the row makes ward 9 of Nasirabad municipal council. There are 18 registered voters out of which eight members are Congress candidate Chaganlal Jat’s family members and the other two are his friends. His victory is almost decided,” Mahendra Tank, candidate of BJP from the same ward, said.

He said he was contesting the elections because his party did not want Chaganlal to win unopposed.

In ward 8, there are 23 voters. Congress candidate Nagma Ara’s position is strong since 11 voters are from the family. Out of 79 voters in ward 18, BJP candidate Anita Mittal with 22 relatives has a strong chance. Elections will be held on November 16.

A senior BJP leader said they have given tickets to candidates looking at the number of voters in their family. “People had voters’ list in their hands when they came to meet us. For such a small municipal council, personal relations will decide a person’s fate,” said the BJP leader.

There are 1,044 voters in the municipal council formed in 2018. It is actually a housing board colony on the outskirts of Nasirabad city. There are many candidates who still reside in the main city, but have registered their names in the council to contest the election.

“There are many candidates who have property here in the council area but reside elsewhere. But to contest the elections, they have added their name from the council,” said Naresh Aggarwal, a resident.

The major poll issues are getting a bridge to cross the railway line, a dispensary and a primary school.

“Here wards consist of just one or two lanes. Caste and religion does not play any role. Everyone knows their neighbours and a hand shake for two days will be enough,” said Ashok Chawla, a BJP worker.