15th Oct. 2014; is poll day for the State of Maharashtra. A fortnight back the news was full of fracturing alliances. Parties that had worked together in happy - sad situations for 25 years or more decided to break away from each other and fight it on their own. The obvious reason being seat allocations and each of those parties thinking that it needed a better share than its partner. I could have understood if the tiff came about on ideological differences on how each one wishes to govern the State and make it a better - more progressive - less taxing place for its residents. Sadly, the electorate are of no consequence in such equations. And we claim India is a Democracy where it is rule of the people for the people by the people. This definition has to change or India has to coin a new word for the type of governance we have now become. Dictatorship elected by the people for persecution of the people by the Dictator and his cohorts.
Why do I feel that now? For one; the elected party is only interested in enriching itself at the cost of the subjects. All the major projects are dished out to related companies. the related companies do a bad job as they don't really have the expertise to carry out the works except believing in cheap is best as it delivers maximum profit - which of course is the motive - not to mention periodic price hikes which have an overall impact on inflation. Can I as a citizen complain? Yes of course I can - at the cost of facing the ire of the party leader and its members - who incidentally I help elect in the first place. If there is a process of election - can we have a process of de-election. NO. Because, a) there is no real process and b) all public servants have learnt the art of sucking up to the elected and make life miserable for anyone who dares to speak up about anything that is not a jingle to the ears of the Dictator.
As of now I am suffering from an overdose of poll jingles. It's uncanny how they stick in your mind and keep replaying again and again in silence. I am sure there is some psychology involved in creation of the same to have that effect - a kind of mind hypnosis. Anyway I cannot understand what message each one is trying to communicate. There is one that proclaims that it is time to end Mafia style rule and the severe level of corruption. Cannot figure is the Party hinting at the present State government being ruled by its adversaries or the Mumbai City administration being ruled by it along with its now splintered partner? The ruling administration's ad talks about putting Maharashtra first. Well if one goes by the State's economy (leaving out Mumbai) then it has probably ensured that the State would fall to some abysmal levels. The latest ad by that Party wants us to believe that it has been responsible for ensuring higher safety for women in the State and for implementing iconic projects like the Mumbai sea-link bridge; the metro and bridges to improve traffic conditions. The jingle fails to say anything about 26/11; the numerous rapes in the State; farmer suicides because of incomplete water distribution projects; the over the top cost ( some Rs 16 billion) of the sea-link project (which was incidentally planned in 1968 from Bandra to Nariman point at a cost of some Rs 160 million back then) that has only reached halfway point; pot holed roads that can give the moon surface a complex; bridges that have collapsed and the list goes on.
Well for both of them; their partners in crime are now washing dirty laundry in public. But who does it help? All that the Jingles have done is pushed me closer to pushing the 49-0 button (which means I waste my vote on nominating no one). This election is probably going to be a waste of money as the votes will be divided 4 ways as each of the 4 major parties have their strongholds. I will be surprised if any party gets absolute majority. In any event - God help the State. Will the results usher in new and more dangerous post poll alliances? Politics is like a soap opera - anyone can sleep with anyone; and it's not impossible to see sworn enemies share the stage together on the swearing ceremony day. Until the 14th then - it's Jingles all the way.
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