News courtesy- Deccan Chronicle

Hyderabad, Nov. 23: Slums are known to be beneficiaries of the largess political parties spread around during elections. But in these local body elections, many owners of apartments too have been given cash bribes.

Many political leaders allegedly distributed between Rs 5,000 and 25,000 — even on polling day itself — to apartment associations in LB Nagar, Kothapet, Alakapuri and Green Hills Colony, seeking the support of flat owners.

In return, the presidents of colony associations and flat owners’ associations were asked to ensure 100 per cent voting in their respective localities.

The Telugu Desam and Congress leaders were reportedly ahead of others in distributing the money.

The lack of vigilance by the police and the state election commission (SEC) allowed local leaders to spend money lavishly to lure voters.

“Local leaders organised meetings with flat owners in the last two days before the polls and distributed money in the early morning. Each family was offered Rs 1,000. Though some of them refused to take the money, others accepted it,” says a resident of Kothapet.

“Educated persons, who are supposed to discourage such things, have accepted money. How can we expect better governance from the corporators when people take bribes from them?” he queried.

Moreover, the urban middle class shows little interest in voting in local body elections. “No party has developed our locality. The drainage system is in poor condition. There is no proper sanitation and water supply. We are fed up with political parties and polls. That is why we usually stay away from elections,” said Mr R. Sravan Kumar, a resident of Alakapuri.