It is likely that the Election Commission will hold the state legislative polls in Arunachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim with the Lok Sabha elections which is due April-May in 2019.
While the Sikkim Assembly ends in May, 2019 the terms of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh assemblies all end in June, 2019.
With the election barely six months away, the Arunachal Pradesh government is already gearing up for election with declaration of the ‘Arunachal Rising’ campaign from Longding district, on Tuesday.
The two-month comprehensive publicity campaign aims at disseminating information on major state and central flagship programmes to the people of Arunachal.
The campaign has started with much fanfare with the inauguration of a VKV school, a primary health centre, unemployed women’s hostel, a mega health camp and the laying of foundation stone to upgrade a police station.
Now, it is unlikely that the Arunachal Rising campaign will get the same reception as the Arunachal government’s ‘Sarkar Aapke Dwar’ campaign, which has seen overwhelming participation of the common citizens of the state.
Mere publicity of central and state government schemes is not enough unless development programmes have truly percolated down to the masses.
It is time for the state government to truly concentrate on its policies and programmes.
The three focused sectors of education, health and law and order have not seen the required dedication. Though the government may claim differently, the result is for all to see.