People's Democracy

REBUFFING the combined design of the BJP and Congress to throttle the people’s verdict, the people of Gohad have resoundingly reelected CPI(M) candidate Prem Narayan Mahour as the chairman of Gohad municipality. By this, the people have not only taught a lesson to the reactionary feudal alliance of BJP-Congress, but also to the Digvijay Singh government of Madhya Pradesh.

Prem Narayan Mahour had won the same elections held two and half years ago. Recently, both the BJP and Congress got together and expelled Mahour from the chairmanship on baseless allegations. They did not even provide him an oppurtunity to place his views. Elections were forced on the people by this feudal alliance, whose unity continued during the course of elections.

It seemed that the BJP and Congress were being directed by the same source. The BJP brought its MP, five MLAs and many national and state level leaders into the campaign while the Congress spent massive amount of money on this election. But the people delivered a decisive verdict by reelecting CPI(M)'s P N Mahour.

The voter turnout was only 35 per cent due to bad weather, forced elections and other reasons. The counting took place on June 24. Mahour secured 4241 votes and defeated his nearest BJP rival by 750 votes. The CPI(M) secured the first position in 14 out of 18 wards and improved its position in many wards. Though Mahour has challenged his expulsion in the High Court, the matter was still pending. The court had fixed hearing dates eleven times, but the government instead of replying chose to force elections upon the people. Rightly, the court had refused to stay the declaration of the result on the day of elections. In the end, the court of the masses delivered their verdict unambigously.

In contrast to the high pitch campaign of BJP-Congress, the CPI(M) chose to interact directly with the people. Only one single big rally was organised and which was addressed by Hanan Mollah, member of the CPI(M) Central Committee. Besides other speakers, Ashok Tiwari, chairman of Kaillarash town committee addressed the rally. The campaign was done on mikes attached to two cycle rickshaws. Jaswinder Singh, member of the CPI(M) state secretariat began corner meetings, which were later organised by state secretariat members Badal Saroj, Ramvilas Goswami, state committee members Rambabu Jatav, Narayan Prasad, Arun Pande and DYFI state president Akhilesh Yadav besides other party leaders of Gohad. In all, around 50 such meetings were organised. Street plays were also staged. The main thrust was on direct contact with the local people and briefing them about the achievements of the Party, exposing the unholy alliance of feudal elements and presenting Party’s policies for the future. Besides the achievements of the Left Front government in West Bengal , issues such as communalism and disastrous economic policies were also highlighted. The unity and alertness of the people reduced the rival group’s plans of booth capturing to a naught.

The Congress prostrated itself before the BJP in the elections for the post of vice president of Municipal Committee just two days before the elections for the chairman. All the parties got together to secure the victory of the BJP candidate which has two councillors. BSP also supported BJP.

The CPI(M) state secretary Bahadur Singh Dhakad has congratulated the people of Gohad for ensuring the victory of CPI(M) candidate and promised them that the Party would rise to accomplish their expectations.