Village spurns liquor, cash

Narsingpally (Nizamabad), April 16: No politician dared to distribute liquor and cash in Narsingpally village of Nizamabad mandal, not because of fear of authorities, but because of the strong stance taken by the residents.

Even as people in neighbouring villages savoured the secret gifts given by politicians, the villagers of Narsingpally stood their ground. Not just that, the villagers had also told the leaders of the Congress, the Telugu Desam and other parties not to conduct a campaign in the village nor set up any election office.

Instead, the villagers took the initiative to conduct a face-to-face with the contesting candidates on April 9. There, they urged the candidates to set up a veterinary hospital, underground drainage, and give preference to welfare and development schemes.

Interestingly, the candidates contesting from the Nizamabad rural Assembly constituency including Mr Mandava Venkateshwer Rao (TD), Ms Akula Lalitha (Congress), Dr E. Ravinder Reddy (Praja Rajyam), Ms Leela Shivasri (BJP), and Dr Banoth Biloji Naik (Loksatta) signed on the bond paper of assurances prepared by the villagers.

Villagers also saw to it that their walls were not defaced by posters, banners and flags. There are 1,615 voters in Narsingpally village and thanda and they voluntarily reached the polling booths and cast their votes on Thursday. There were not even election agents in the polling booths.

“We decided to stand together to ensure free and fair polls,” said a woman voter, Ms Kalwarala Raju Bai. “Yes, a few people were disappointed by the rejection of cash and liquor, but we hope developmental works will be taken up in the village soon.”

Another villager, Mr Balaiah, said they were proud to have said a firm “no” to cash and liquor.

“The entire village took part in the polls without taking favours,” said the sarpanch, Ms Katroth Akkubai. “We also kept the liquor shops in the village close for the last four days.”

“We have never seen such smooth polling anywhere else,” said the presiding officer, Mr B.Anand.