All but one of the mukhiya candidates (panchayat head) for a panchayat at Chaibasa in mineral-rich West Singhbhum district shied away from a public debate on Wednesday, a day before the second phase of the four-leg panchayat polls in Jharkhand was held.

The public debate was organised by food security outfit Khadya Suraksha Jan Adhikar Manch, West Singhbhum, at Baragaliya panchayat in Chaibasa Sadar block of West Singhbhum district on Wednesday evening.

“As had been planned earlier we had called all the six candidates in the fray for the mukhiya’s post in the Baragaliya panchayat for a public discussion. All the mukhiya candidates were women from the ST community (the panchayat is a ST-reserved constituency) and the objective was to discuss with the candidates and understand their vision for the development of the panchayat, their priorities and experience in tackling local problems. However, barring one candidate (Rai Purty), none turned up at the meeting,” said Ramesh Jerai, an active member of the food security outfit and a Chaibasa resident. The meeting was called at the panchayat haat (rural market place).

Kande Bodra, a native of Kabragutu village under the Baragaliya panchayat, said that despite calling six candidates, the presence of only one raised the question as to how these candidates would work in the public interest after the elections.

“We had heard from various sources that many candidates have been fielded by their husbands or other influential contractors and they were forbidden to participate in issue-based public discussions. The forum believes that the non-participation of the candidates in the discussion raises the question as to how the panchayat will become accountable and transparent to the public in the coming days. Also, due to this programme, the villagers came to know the real intention of the candidates,” said Bodra, a small-time farmer.

Lutu Sundi, another resident of Baralagiya village under the same panchayat went a step further and accused the candidates who had shied away from debates of conniving with contractors to loot funds meant for rural development.

“It became clear that candidates are standing in the election with the intention of looting government funds meant for rural development. They go to villagers and lure them to vote in their favour by giving meat, fish, liquor, and rice. The panchayat residents have seen what has happened in the last five years. This time there will be no such mistake,” warned Sundi.

“In the meeting, a detailed discussion was held on the present status of the public distribution system, social security pension, public education and health system,” said Ramesh Jerai.

On the basis of this experience, Khadya Suraksha Jan Adhikar Manch, West Singhbhum appeals to the Gram Sabhas of the remaining two-phase villages to organise a public discussion in their villages in which all the candidates should be invited and questioned on public issues and there should be a concrete step towards the creation of accountable and transparent panchayats in the district.

Meanwhile, polling went off peacefully in 10,614 booths across 50 blocks in 16 districts during the second phase of the panchayat elections. Around 38.82 lakh voters were eligible to exercise their franchise.

Polling was held in the second phase in 872 panchayats to elect 5,123 panchayat members, 866 mukhiyas, 938 panchayat committee members and 102 zilla parishad members. A total of 21,872 candidates are in the fray.

Total 5,093 seats have already been decided uncontested in the second phase.