Dehradun, July 23 -- As the first polling day approaches for the Panchayat elections in Uttarakhand, on the face of it, there does not seem to be much excitement among the electorate on exercising their franchise. One reason could be the fact that much of the campaigning is being done on social media and is not visible on the ground. That does not mean candidates are not making the effort to go from door to door, but it is proving difficult owing to the difficult terrain in the hills and the continuing rain. Promotional internet posts are an easy and low-cost alternative.
Apart from the fact that these polls will provide yet another opportunity for the Congress to challenge the BJP's hegemony in the state, there is the hope that a new gene...