“Aap Ka Neta Kaisa Ho, Gandhi, Nehru Jaisa Ho”, goes a popular saying. Such leaders are in short-supply. In city, as the election day
nears and campaigning ends, TOI finds out that common people have more modest expectations. They would rather have a leader who provides facilities like power, roads, and a safe environment.
Nagpur University’s pro vicechancellor GS Parasher feels the leader should be an ideal citizen first, free of corruption or criminal charges. “I would vote for a person who has a proven track record. He should set an example through his work. After winning, he should raise problems being faced by the education sector, load-shedding, along with health and sanitation,” he adds.
Dr Ashish Anvikar, working with a private hospital, believes his family would prefer a result-oriented candidate. “Nowadays, no one is free of corruption. Only expectation is that candidate should not have criminal background and should be educated. He should strongly advocate for problems faced by common people, especially water, power, roads in rural areas,” he stresses.
IT professional Ajay Pohankar says he would prefer a new candidate who is young and full of new ideas. “My preference would be a candidate well aware of problems faced by the citizens in our area. Where I stay chain-snatching and burglaries are rampant and therefore I want our neta to do something about it. I also wish that my neta should bring about an industrial revolution in the area,” he said. Sudhir Udgaonkar, a senior citizen, however, feels that experience should be given preference as it has no alternative.
“My family will favour a contestant who is experienced and has thorough knowledge of the area he is representing. He should raise and fight for issues like rising inflation and load-shedding which are plaguing the entire state. He should speak out in the assembly unlike leaders we have had so far. He should also provide relief from exorbitant hike in water rates and property taxes which are troubling common man,” he says.