Poor get poorer
As always, given the inequities built into the global economic system, the poorest people in the world have been the…
Statesman News Service
Bolpur, 12March
Birbhum district Trinamul Congress leadership has come up with a unique idea to fetch votes in the Lok Sabha polls.
At the party workers’ meeting, district Trinamul president Anubrata Mondal announced cash prize
for blocks, municipalities and panchayats that get the highest lead in terms of vote.
The meeting was held to boost party workers for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Bolpur. Workers from the panchayat level to the district level were present at the meeting along with Trinamul candidates Satabdi Roy and Anupam Hajra.
This is the first time a district leadership has announced cash prizes for mobilising votes.
The Trinamul leadership announced Rs 5 lakh for blocks and municipalities which bring the highest votes for the MP candidates. Later, cash prize of Rs 1 lakh was announced for panchayat-level leaders.
“Money is not important here. We must not be seen it from a monetary point of view but it should be treated as a prize. When a team wins a football match the management presents prizes to the players. It is a similar case. Workers will be paid for their good work,” said Anubrata Mondal, district president.
The announcement has left local leaders happy. “Whenever a prize is announced, it encourages everyone. Now there will be a competition amongst the district leaders. Apart from dedication to the party, we will also try to get the prize. It will be a prestige issue,” said a block president of Birbhum.
Some district leaders assume that this will encourage another prize system within the district.
“Every block will try to get the prize. To mobilise highest number of votes the blocks may also announce prize money for the local and booth level,” said another block president of the district.
Rampurhat MLA Ashish Banerjee said: “It will encourage a fair competition among the workers. The money will be given from district party funds. It will benefit the candidates.”
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