Realty check: Panchayat polls are high-stakes battles

On the surface, local body polls may appear less sig nificant than assembly and parliamentary elections that impact lawmaking.The domains are smaller and officials are more important than elected representatives at the local level although these reps can influence contracts, especially in carrying out government programmes.

Seasoned politicos, however, understand that at the grassroots level, panchayat polls are often high-stakes games.Elected reps in panchayats sign off on land use and real estate development, and this has endowed them with considerable power.

The post of president is a more coveted position in the suburbs of cities than, say , a ward councillor of the city corporation.It is not uncommon for a panchayat president to live the high life -zip around in fancy SUVs and live in palatial dwellings.“They [presidents] expect at least 2% of the total value of the land deal to be paid to them. For big apartment developers, the going rate is `20,000 ­ `30,000 per kitchen.We pass these costs on to the customer,“ said a prominent real estate developer, speaking on condition of anonymity .

The murky nature of these deals has infused violent crime and mafia-style criminals into the scene. Urapakkam, which has seen tremendous real estate growth in the last decade-and-half, has had three of its sitting presidents hacked to death since 2001.

In

Medavakkam

panchayat, the incumbent president B Ravi has retained his seat since 1996, a staggering feat on its own.Long-time residents recall how Ravi, a DMK functionary , ran as an independent when the AIADMK was in power in 2011 and still managed to defy odds to win.“There is prestige, as much as money , involved in panchayat elections,“ said A M Malathi, a resident.

Ravi is seeking another term but this time has fielded his wife, after the panchayat was reserved for women. Residents say Ravi is in the good books of realtors and has their backing. Ravi could not be reached for comment.

In some places, panchayat presidents insist on playing by the rulebook and get into conflict with “developers“. In Manamai, for instance, located roughly 5km from Mahabalipuram, a local businessman, K Sundaram, has put his weight behind another candidate, Sengeni, in a bid to oust the sitting president `Manamai' P

Veerasamy

.

Veerasamy has held the president's post for 10 years since 2006 and has the reputation of being a stickler. “Sundaram doesn't like Veerasamy . They have been on opposite sides for a long time,“ said a police officer.

Veerasamy says Sundaram started out in the illicit liquor business before moving on to quarrying where he made his fortune. “All that is old story. I am now a Class I contractor at the Kalpakkam atomic facility,“ says Sundaram.

Veerasamy has also been involved in a long feud with the Great Lakes Institute of Management whose campus is in Manamai village. The panchayat president filed a writ before the Madras high court stating that the institute had encroached upon 4.5 acres of poromboke land. “But the land records were altered to suit the college management. Revenue officials are in cahoots with the college,“ alleged Veerasamy .

Sundaram takes credit for facilitating the setting up of the institute, which he says has lifted the profile of the area and made it more upmarket. “When a college is formed, there is bound to be such questions. But Veerasamy is the most corrupt person out there,“ said Sundaram.

Representatives of Great Lakes Institute, while saying that they hold the patta to their land, however, give a good character certificate to Veerasamy . “We have had our issues in the past. But Veerasamy never asked for money . He is a firm believer in principles. He could have made tons of money if he wanted to. But characters like him also exist among us,“ said a representative of Great Lakes Institute, who did not want to be named.