Dehradun: With Uttarakhand gearing up for its Municipal Corporation (MC) elections in January 2025 across 100 urban local bodies, citizens are setting the agenda loud and clear.

 Led by Social activist and founder of the Dehradun-based SDC Foundation, Anoop Nautiyal, the citizens have thrown a challenge to political parties—don’t just promise, prove it.

In a video message, Nautiyal urged political parties to issue detailed, urban-centric manifestos aligned with a 25-year vision for Uttarakhand’s towns and cities.

But he didn’t stop at just promises on paper. He demanded accountability and implementation.

"What’s the use of manifestos if they’re forgotten after elections? Parties need to appoint dedicated teams to monitor and implement these promises for the full five-year term," he emphasized.

Here’s Nautiyal’s three-point manifesto for the parties:

1️⃣ Detailed Manifestos with Vision: Manifestos should reflect a long-term urban vision for the state and address core issues like waste management, traffic woes, water supply, and sustainable urban development.

2️⃣ Urban Governance Teams: Parties must form specialized teams within their political organizations to ensure manifesto implementation in collaboration with urban local bodies.

These teams should actively monitor progress, troubleshoot, and push for results over the entire five years.

3️⃣ Training New Leaders: Nautiyal highlighted the inexperience of many first-time mayors and chairpersons in tackling urban governance challenges.

He called for comprehensive and ongoing training programs for newly elected leaders—not just token workshops but consistent mentorship and hand-holding.

"Urban governance is complex, and new leaders need to be brought up to speed to deliver results," he said.

With citizens growing more vocal about accountability, their  demands resonate with a broader push for responsible urban development.

The ball is now in the court of political parties to deliver a manifesto that’s not just words but a blueprint for change—and a commitment to see it through.

The big question: Will the candidates step up or stick to empty promises? January 2025 will tell.