Wadgaon Sheri: Gardenia Society Allows Candidates to Campaign For Only 2 Hours

Pune: "No one comes to solve our problems. Every year, rainwater enters the society and causes huge damage. In the society meeting, we have decided to allow candidates to campaign from 5 pm to 7 pm.

The candidates had also called, but we requested to come on time. We have fixed this time so that the elders of the society do not suffer or the routine of the citizens should be campaigned without changing," said Sharad Adsul, president of Gardenia Housing Society in Wadgaon Sheri.

Pune's 21 assembly constituencies will go to polls on November 20. Right now, the campaign is starting to take off. Candidates focus more on home visits, including meetings, corner meetings and meetings. There are about 25,000 registered housing societies and 50,000 apartments in Pune.

Candidates hold meetings or public interactions to reach out to voters living in societies. Often, people are disturbed by the workers who come at any time to campaign. Some society officials said there were instances of arguments with security guards near the entrance.

Some office-bearers said they would allow them to campaign at any time, but it was important to say goodbye first. At the same time, permission should also be taken from the office-bearers to come to the society to distribute leaflets from the workers door to door, and we inform the residents of the society, so that no one is opposing it.

Don't come in the afternoon...
"We have created voter awareness in the society and it has also received a good response. So we are approached by candidates for campaigning, we don't stop them from campaigning. But candidates should not come for campaigning in the afternoon.

They come anytime in the afternoon, evening, we allow them. Leaflets are allowed to be dropped and promoted. But even if a specific time is not given, candidates should not come for campaigning in the afternoon," said Sudhakar Auti, president of Rohan Mithila Housing Society in Vimannagar.

I don't stop campaigning, but...
We don't stop anyone from campaigning after candidates ask for permission to campaign. That's when we probably request to avoid noon. The candidates and their cadres agree.

Yogesh Joshi, secretary of DSK Vishwa Bhaskara Housing Society in Dhairi, and Anjali Kelkar, secretary of The Park Land in Balewadi, said, "Many people insist on putting the leaflet in front of the door to put the leaflet in the letter box.

Each society has its own autonomy. The society decides to allow the society to go and campaign. Sometimes there is excess campaigning by the candidates' workers. No one is stopping on the street outside. But if the society has decided something, the workers should follow it.

Candidates reach out to voters through a variety of means. Therefore, candidates, their workers and office bearers of the society need to exercise restraint, says Suhas Patwardhan, President, Pune District Housing Societies and Apartments Federation.