The Pioneer              14.05.2013

RMC all set to elect Deputy Mayor

Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is all set to elect its new Deputy Mayor on May 14. Election for the coveted post will start soon after the newly elected ward councilors are administered oath of office. A Deputy Mayor will be elected by councillors from among themselves.

For anyone to contest Deputy Mayor’s Election, his nomination paper needs to contain name and signature of one councilor endorsing and one councilor supporting his candidature. Interestingly, in the absence of Mayor, the Divisional Commissioner of Ranchi division will administer oath of office to the elected Deputy Mayor.

Incidentally, all aspirants were busy lobbying for the post of Deputy Mayor and have left no stone unturned to consolidate their chances in the election. “So many rounds of meeting have only boosted up my morale,” said Sanjeev Vijay Vargiya adding: “I don’t see anyone challenging my candidature in the election.”

Significantly, use of illegal means to influence voters in the election has made some aspirants to decide against contesting. “As many as 20 councilors have vowed to support me but I will not file nomination if they are influenced to change their mind,” said Arun Jha, a Deputy Mayoral aspirant.

Notably, the Deputy Mayor will be elected for one year thus making the elections a perennial affair. “The councilors will have the opportunity to remove the Deputy Mayor if he or she does not performs,” said Vargiya.

The Pioneer              14.05.2013

Young brigade gung-ho about responsibilities in RMC wards

Usually thought of as bastion of elderly, politics is gradually attracting youngsters who have shed the baggage of aversion and braced it with open arms. If the youngsters have fallen in love with politics at grass-root level the newly elected young ward councilors of Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) are a case in point.

Beaming with confidence and unperturbed by the expectations of people, youngsters are now craving for greater responsibility in the RMC board. Probably the youngest of all, Ashok Baraik of Ward Number - 28 is eying for the post of Deputy Mayor of RMC and believes that the youth factor would benefit the municipal body in doing better.

“Age is definitely an advantage when it comes to working overtime, as expected from a Deputy Mayor,” said Baraik adding it’s about passion for doing something for the society which again is more prominent in youths than elders.”

Albeit, Baraik is not confident about his chances of making to the post, the deputy mayor aspirant believes 30 rounds of meeting with several councilors has helped in making his presence felt among the councilors.

The new board of the RMC will be constituted today which will feature faces that are in mid to late twenties and early 30s hence considered the flag bearers of change in the grass-root politics.

The young brigades of grass-root politics optimistic about bringing in much needed change in politics which the elderly have stalled so far, they allege. “It is necessary for the youngsters to show interest in politics if they want to bring change in the society and help their country progress,” said Ratnesh Kumar Singh councilor of ward-39.

The lethargy of elderly will be replaced by the exuberance of youth if they are given opportunity to work for the people however they believe it cannot happen without the guidance of the elderly lot of the politics. “We are full of energy and are available all the time but I would seek guidance from the elders in politics,” said Ashok Khalkho, aged 28 and councilor of ward-6.

The resistance to innovative ideas and change has made the aging horses of politics at all level an object of criticism and disgust which can be remedied by giving opportunity to youths. “A youth always brings new ideas and accepts change which diminishes by age,” said Khalkho.