(Representative image)

DEHRADUN: Residents of Mori block, which comprises 92 villages under the Purola assembly constituency in Uttarkashi, one of the most remote seats in Uttarakhand, have on the lines of US elections come up with a unique initiative to decide their candidates. In an elaborate two-month long exercise, a 26-member core committee shortlisted 15 names to be in the race for the seat.

In a string of meetings, which included several rounds of interview and reviewing of the aspirants’ background, 32-year-old Durgeshwar Lal was announced as the people’s candidate from Purola. Soon after, residents of 42 villages of Purola block in the constituency also extended their support to Lal, making him a formidable force in the assembly polls.

The move was initiated because the locals believed that both the Congress and the BJP lawmakers from the constituency had failed to keep their commitments. According to residents, there are dozens of villages which do not have roads, forcing people to walk 15 to 20 km. Lack of a proper hospital or schools also caused considerable anger among the voters, not to mention the poor mobile connectivity.

While the BJP’s Malchand represented the reserved (SC) constituency of Purola in 2002 and 2012, Congress candidate Rajesh Juwantha won in 2007. However, Mori residents alleged the MLAs worked only for themselves and not for the constituency.

The heads of 92 villages under Mori block, which is among the three blocks under Purola assembly seat besides Naugaon and Purola, met and formed a 26-member core committee entrusted with finding a “non-controversial” candidate dedicated to the development of the area.

Upendra Singh Chauhan was made the head of the core committee that shortlisted 15 persons. Rajendra Singh Rawat , a resident of Thalli village told TOI, “Over 16 years since the state was formed, the condition of areas under Purola seat hasn’t changed. People are treated as mere vote banks and forgotten after elections. We decided that this system has to change, and for good.”

All 15 in the shortlist were made to pledge in front of the local deities to support the candidate decided by the committee and to not campaign against him.

“In November and December last year, we had over 10 meetings and several rounds of interviews and reviews. Durgeshwar Lal has a clean image with no political links. He works in Delhi but has also been associated with social welfare here. The core committee was unanimous in selecting him,” said Rawat.

Lal filed his nomination papers as an Independent candidate, and his rallies have generated a positive response from the people. Lal is pitted against sitting BJP MLA Malchand, Congress nominee Rajkumar and the BSP’S Ram Lal.

“Currently I am working in Delhi as a senior marketing manager with a private firm. I have remained strongly connected with my roots at Mori,” said Lal, a resident of Reksa village. “After 16 years of being ignored, people have high expectations from me. If elected, I will ensure that I am able to solve the problems of the area,” he added.

Lal has Rs 50,000 cash in hand and an equal amount in his bank account. He does not own any car or land. “I am going to the people and assuring them I will try my best to get good hospitals and colleges constructed in Purola, besides providing road and mobile connectivity in the villages,” said the Independent candidate.

Voters of Purola and Mori blocks make up over two-thirds of the 67,000-plus votes of the constituency. While Mori block has 24,861 voters, Naugaon has 21,390 voters and 19,692 voters are from Purola block. According to political parties, there are 40% Thakur voters, 30% SC voters, 20% Brahmins and 10% others in the constituency.