Elections in India

World’s largest democracy, India will have its 15th Parliamentary elections shortly. All of us are aware that the political parties of India would easily out number the stars in the galaxy. Numerous independent candidates along with these parties will enter the fray that will end up confusing the voters. Result - the votes would get split and we will get a fractured verdict. This, in turn, will give us a fractured rule.

The political parties are gearing up hiring marketing and advertisement agencies to make an impressive campaign that can get those votes. The TV media collaborated with psephologists, work over time to force their biased views down the people’s throats in the name of analysis. There will be discussions, brainstorming sessions on chalking out the manifestos, fielding of candidates that will keep the political parties too busy. Frankly speaking, how much such issues matter when it comes to voting is not known?

As we scan through the blogs, we observe that there is no dearth of suggestions flowing in. The suggestions are for the voters and political parties alike. Reviews, comments, appraisals on the present political situation, what needs to be done are broadly discussed. Will these blogs, ad campaigns make the real difference? Are these blogs catering to the real India? I wonder.

Invariably, almost all the blogs focused on the internal security of the nation. The public memory is too short. I would thank the terrorists, who kept our memory alive with frequent blasts all over the country just to spread similar feelings all over the country. If not fully united, at the least, these blasts generated a need of an awakening. I do agree the internal security is a genuine problem but is it the only problem? Had it been the case Delhi would have given us a different result. I still can’t accept that a handful of terrorists can take a country for a ride without local support. Have we ever tried to find out the moles / black sheep among ourselves and punish them? What are the issues that concern the nation? What have they promised and what is the status vis-à-vis their promises?

Our PM promised a makeover of Mumbai to Shangai. Did it happen? We don’t want Shangai but give us back our Bombay! They promised flats on slums – it too did not happen. Governments screamed “garibi hatao” and boasted that it is for “aam aadmi” but it preferred keeping people below BPL and almost forgot common man. Yet, we listen to their non-sense elections after elections. This Government is of the people, for the people but not by the people. Politicians have cleverly changed this phrase to “Buy the people”. Successive Govts preferred to provide people free-fish rather than teaching how-to-fish. This conditioned the people to remain perennial beggars so that they can be bought from time and again on a single day luxury. Election Day is the luxury day for this class of people.

It is the people in BPL category matters the most on Election Day. They do not want to look into their past as it is not rosy. They do not want to look into their future because it is bleak. They are concerned about the present. How to survive the day is their prime challenge. This is exploited by our politicians to the maximum. They pay them for the day (exaggerated pay), feed them fully, provide them liquor and maneuver things the way they want. These men vote as many times as they can without realizing that their votes tilt the balance of the country!

Elite class people have nothing to do with the election. Whoever rules the country, the policies are derived by this class for mutual gains.

Less we talk of the middle-class men is better. They are good at commenting, writing blogs or letters to the editor, good at whining but when it comes to action, they are vanished. So, ideally it is better not to waste energy on listening to them. They do not have an idea of their own. They easily get carried away by the TV channel they watch or the news magazine they read. If they have problems, let them learn to live with it. They have been doing it and they must be masters in it by now!

After 62 years of independence, there are around 70 crore people who do not have access to electricity. It is a different story that those who have access to electricity have for only 50% of the available time. There are no plans seems available with the Government to cater this ever-increasing demand.

Again, there are around 60 crore people who lack access to drinking water. Rain water harvest, check dams are the need of the hour. Has the Govt thrown any light on this?

Agricultural sector is thoroughly neglected. Why can’t we try out other crops instead of toiling for rice and wheat repeatedly? Farmers do not need free power. They want water. By giving free power we waste the power and weaken the earth by pulling out water. Why can’t we try our Drip irrigation system or check dam system?

Numerous vehicles are introduced to roads every day that adds to the carbon emission. If the public transport system has been efficient private vehicles would not have grown this far. For an efficient public transport system, we lack good roads. Infra structure is one area that is long forgotten. The golden quadrilateral project that took the life of a whistle blower is no longer visible. Such projects would bring the cost down on logistics and can provide employment.

Crime rate is on the rise. Violence is glorified in films. Policemen are no longer people-friendly. Corruption has taken roots among all levels like a cancer. Common public are losing interest in nation’s affairs. What made it to happen? They behave indifferent to whatever happens around as long as it does not affect them primarily. Did some one try to analyze and find a solution?

The problem lies with us. We respect those who amass wealth by whatever means. We remain indifferent to unethical practices around us. Blaming politics as gutter, we isolated ourselves from it but keep whining when it failed to provide solutions. We have learnt to live with problems and always expect Govt to provide us a solution. We do not see an issue in a broader perspective but from a narrow perspective that matter to the individual only.

I am sure, even this blog would not make a difference but I expressed. The election is not fought on issues but bought on money! Let us not cheat ourselves by discussing all these! There is a huge difference between Real India and the Political India.