Parties whether national or local confined themselves to fight State or parliamentary elections.
Now they are vying for grass root power at Panchayat , Zilla Parishad and at Municipality level. MLAs want to have a hold on them and after elections they try and win them over as a party group. It comes at a price... money is poured to influence the voters, bribed to withdraw and lured to vote for the Sarpanch provided with liquor and hotels, restaurants , bars in the locality are enlisted with daily quota. Corruption has entered local bodies in a big way. The funds are provided by parties or MLAs who calls the shots to demonstrate their clout. The evils associated with State elections are filtering down and that is cause for concern. The tentacles of corruption are seeping into the system
Earlier only MLAs were treated at posh hotels before votes were cast. Now municipality councillors are treated similarly to safeguard poaching attempts. Whether they are colleges, bank unions, associations of taxi drivers, etc where ever there are elections, the party label is used to win at all costs .The highest party functionaries are directly involved to offer legitimacy and authenticity.
Due to greed to control power, the virus of communalism is infecting the social system creating tensions, hatred, enmities disturbing the web of social fabric and harmony among friends and neighbours.
