What do people ask MPs for their vote?

On October 27, Uzbekistan is holding Parliamentary elections, with voting commencing early at polling stations across the country. But what are the voters asking of the deputies in exchange for their votes? QALAMPIR.UZ visited polling station 809 in the Bektemir district, one of Tashkent's more remote areas, to find out.

"I would ask deputies for a kindergarten in exchange for my vote. It would be good if a new polyclinic was built. For example, we need a playground," said a woman who came to vote.

Another voter shared that he cast his vote for the Ecological Party, citing environmental concerns as the biggest issue facing Tashkent residents.

"Now the weather is very bad. There are many factories and plants in the area where we live, so I think it is necessary to improve the environment. For this, we need to increase green spaces and plant more trees. Everyone is getting sick because the weather is not improving in Tashkent," he said.

"Bektemir has problems. We have recently joined the city of Tashkent. It's been a year. Now the electrical system must also be connected to the city's. The reason is that it often goes out. Also, the sewage system should be improved," said a male voter who pointed out infrastructure issues in Bektemir.

In general, the residents of Bektemir are asking for basic amenities in exchange for their votes—kindergartens, schools, school toilets, drainage systems, improved sewage, and reliable electricity. Whether these modest requests will be met remains to be seen.

Candidates from five political parties - UzLiDeP, the People's Democratic Party, the National Revival Democratic Party, the Adolat Social Democratic Party, and the Ecological Party - are participating in this parliamentary election. These parties last competed in the 2019 parliamentary elections.