JAGTIAL: An Independent candidate from Korutla has become the talk of the town thanks to his election handouts: a resignation letter and a chappal.
Akula Hanumanlu has been knocking on the doors of voters in the constituency insisting that the electors keep his pink slip and a chappal to thrash him if he reneges upon his poll promises. The novel campaigning trick seems to have caught the imagination of Kortula, but it remains to be seen if the tactic will translate into votes. A rather confident Akula told Express his strategy should be made the norm as most politicians “promise voters the moon while begging for votes,” but take them for a ride once they win. Akula, who belongs to Gajulapeta village in Metpalli mandal, explains want he wishes for Korutla pithily, “Development.”
“The voters can beat me with the chapals that I have given them and submit the resignation letters to authorities concerned,” says the rather confident 45-year-old who works as a document writer and does farming.Though he hasn’t studied beyond Class VII, Akula is sure that he understands the mood of the electorate and what voters want.
“I have been observing political leaders for the last 10 years. They forget the people once they are elected. People struggle hard to meet leaders to tell them about their grievances,” he complains. Such a culture needs to be nipped in the bud, Akula has been asserting since he began his novel campaign after filing his nomination papers on November 19.
20-point manifesto
His 20-point manifesto includes building a cremation ground in every village, setting aside his honorarium for development works and the construction of English Medium schools. His poll symbol is a whistle.