Govind Sharma
People of Marh Constituency, which is spread over a large area comprising 26 panchayats and 68,870 electors, gave mixed responses on the performance of sitting MLA of the constituency, Sukh Nandan Kumar. While a large number of people expressed strong resentment over his performance in last five years, there was also no dearth of such people, who appreciated the work done by the MLA notwithstanding his style of working and language problem.
Marh Constituency which is spread over a large area comprising 26 panchayats (20 of Marh constituency and 6 of Satwari) and some area of Ward No. 61 (Patta) with a strength of 68,870 electors, was won by Sukh Nandan Kumar in 2008 by defeating with 6,581 votes the then MLA, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, who ruled the Constituency for two consecutive terms.
Most of the people to which Excelsior team met, cited the language problem and tone of the MLA a negative side of his personality. They said that whenever they visited him regarding any work, he speaks in a harsh tone unlike other leaders, who speak very politely; sometimes it becomes unbearable for most of the people, so they opt not to go to him. While others said that he uses rough language but he is honest, clean by heart and always helps the needy who go to him.
Some complained that the local MLA always remains busy on his mobile phone and does not even listen to them properly when they visit him for any work of their area, there were many others, who showered heaps of praises on him for the development works initiated by him in last five years.
Most of the people expressed disappointment over worst condition of roads, lanes and drains, inadequate water and power supply, lack of proper infrastructure in Government schools and hospitals and failure of various Government schemes.
Chuni Lal of village Flora and Sant Ram of Tatrayal said that they will never vote in favour of Sukh Nandan, as in last five years a single developmental work was not initiated by him in their respective areas. The roads and lanes of their area are in deteriorated condition, people do not get ration in time and are deprived of benefits of various welfare schemes like IAY, PMGSY, etc.
Devraj (70), a village Chowkidaar and resident of Galwadda accused the MLA of ignoring the poor and downtrodden people like him. Pointing towards his one-room hut made of earth, logs and thatch, Devraj said, here “I have been living for many years during which many a time officials of BDO came and took details for extending financial assistance under IAY, but a single penny was not released under the scheme in may favour. I also approached once to MLA Sukh Nandan in this concern, but he did not pay any attention to me.
We people expect nothing more from our MLA, except good roads, lanes and drains but our MLA even failed to provide that, said Sonpal of Village Marh”.
Purshotam of Bawe Talab, a farmer by profession also expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of MLA. He said a public representative should not discriminate between rich and poor, but our MLA’s behaviour is not good with poor. “Once I approached him regarding our lanes, but instead of extending any help, he shouted at me. Such behavior is not expected of an MLA”, he said.
Tarlochan Singh of Gole Gujral also expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of MLA. He said, “I never saw MLA in our locality, where people are facing long duration power cuts and low voltage. Moreover, roads and lanes of the locality are in shambles”.
Rahul Sangral a College student and resident of Mandaal said that theirs is the most neglected area. “In this belt, there are about 45 villages but there is no proper road and transport facility. People have to wait about 40 minutes to one hour for a mini-bus, which is the only transport facility available in the area but that too comes so overloaded that one even cannot get space to stand on the entrance door. The condition of the roads is so worst that even our friends and relatives do not prefer to visit our houses”, he said adding “we have strong resentment with our MLA, who did nothing for the development of this most neglected belt”.
However, Rakesh Kumar (32) of Gajansoo lauded the MLA for his work in last five years. “Our MLA has left no stone unturned to redress the grievances of the people. Roads, lanes and drains everything is up to the mark; farmers are getting free subsidized seeds and fertilizers timely. What else we can expect form an MLA? ”, he asked.
“We are satisfied with the work done by Sukh Nandan in Marh area and will definitely vote in his favour in the upcoming Assembly elections”, said Sonpal (30), an ex-servicemen residing in Marh area.
Rattan Lal (60) of Kalyanpur also spoke in affirmative when asked about the performance of the MLA in last five years. Our MLA never disappointed us whenever we went to him for any help, he said, adding the people of this area are fully satisfied with his performance, so there is no doubt that we will vote in his favour.
Rajinder Singh, an ex-police personnel of Anand Nagar (Tommal) also appreciated the MLA for its work. He said that people of this area are happy with Sukh Nandan, as they are getting everything—good roads, lanes and drains, regular water and power supply and timely supply of ration, which a person needs to live good life.
He said those who say that the MLA is harsh in tone is totally wrong; the truth is that he is straight forward and speaks truth without any hesitation. He never gives false assurances to the public, he added.
One Anil Kumar (26) of Swanjana also showered praise on Sukh Nandan. He said Mr Sukh Nandan has initiated many development works in our area. The only problem the people of this belt are facing, are bad condition of Phalain Mandal Road, but with the initiative of the MLA, now this road is being widened and blacktopped upto Phalain and “we hope the left over stretch of this road will also be blacktopped as early as possible”.
However, Mr Sukh Nandan when contacted claimed that a lot of development works had been started in every part of his constituency, since he took charge as an MLA. Most of them have been accomplished while on some of them the work is going on.
On bad condition of roads in several areas, he said wherever people are complaining of bad roads, the work of either blacktopping or patching is on and soon will be completed.
Describing his achievements in last over five years, Sukh Nandan said farmer community of his constituency was suffering in the absence of procurement centres to sell their produce, but in his over five years term, he got opened three procurement centres—one each at Gajansoo, Swanjana and Janochak, where farmers are getting higher prices for their produce. Besides this, in last over five years, various Government centres have been opened for providing subsidized fertilizers and hybrid seeds to the farmers.
He further claimed that in his over five year period, he gave about five new tube wells and about 100 transformers and 4-5 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to the people of his constituency. Moreover, many new primary schools were opened and about 45 middle schools upgraded in this period while the upgradation of two High Schools into Higher Secondary, are in pipeline.
He also took credit of sanctioning Village Tirlokpur Khariyan for model village, for which he said an amount of Rs 1,10,00,000 will be spent to erect a community hall and make a playground besides initiating other developments works like lanes, drains and blacktopped roads.
On people’s allegation that he is harsh in tone while dealing with them, Sukh Nandan said “I am not one of those leaders who adopt the appeasement policy and befool people with their sweet words. I am straight forward and when someone comes to me for regarding any work, I do not befool them with false promises like many other leaders instead I speak plainly the truth whether I can help them or not”.
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