Even while the urban local body elections are underway, the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are not far away. Probably with this in view, various political leaders have started marking their attendance in Ram Leela and other such programmes.
The general public opine that politicians are visiting Ram Leelas mainly for political gains. Even after Dussehra, Ram Leela performances are underway in the mountainous regions of the State.
Though politicians, visiting such programmes, have not yet talked openly about their political motives, them visiting such programmes in various locations and interacting with people across age groups makes it appear more like an exercise aimed at garnering and consolidating support.
Locals point out that in the mountainous regions, most public representatives meet the public mainly during the elections. After the elections, it is rare for the politicians to interact in the same way with the public.
In the Nainital region, Ram Leela performances are being staged these days in about a dozen villages including Pahadpani, Dhanachuli, Sunderkhal, Chaukhuta, Sunkiya, Kaul, Nai and Bhimtal among other areas.
Various politicians are also marking their presence prominently in such events. Recently, former Chief Minister and AICC General Secretary Harish Rawat also visited various Ram Leelas at various locations.
While addressing the gathering at the show in Pahadpani, he asked former assembly speaker GS Kunjwal to address the gathering while he himself went to personally interact with members of the audience.