This column is not Political. It’s Electoral. Some say it’s the same, others say it’s not. But basically, they are the two sides of a coin that often do not see eye to eye. Because no politician wants elections, and no elector wants politics! And that is a bane, rather than a boon! But like Electral, this column hopes to balance electorlytes!
Elections to two state assemblies and one Municipal Corporation are just over. And the exit polls are predicting what they always predict – someone will win, and someone will lose. But they don’t mention the citizens in either category! That’s quite natural because elections are not about the people, but power derived from the people. They call it the power to serve – like in tennis.
There is a first serve, a second serve and a double fault! And they do serve in the run-up to the election. Quite the cocktail – Money Muscle and Mania! May not be afterwards – Afterwards, it’s your turn to provide your money and muscle for their mania! And some do enjoy that turn, for it gives power to them too! If they bow and serve enough! Not Bow-Wow – that would be a disservice that could land you behind bars – the wrong un’s.
It’s interesting how politicians appear on TV and websites showing their fingers to us after voting. Not the finger on the hand with which they voted, but the other one. To befuddle us? Or to tell us, it’s over for us? Maybe it’s both? Or is it that the left-hand does not want to reveal what the right has done?
They also walk to the booth to vote, when otherwise, they would not even step from the house without a car or a convoy or stop on the road to say hello unless on a yatra – which again is for the elections. So, elections do transform human beings – and that’s a good thing because nothing transforms human beings for the better these days – it’s generally for the worse even though as part of our constitutional vows we say when we cast our vote – for better or for worse!
Elections as we know them, are a device to provide power to the few over the rest, where the rest give that power to the few and then rest until their rest is disturbed. Then they wake up from their deep slumber and get agitated, and disturb the few, which the few don’t appreciate because they are the chosen few. They don’t realise, the power of the English Language – they WERE the chosen few! And they must be chosen anew!
Elections – both before and after – are a time for Conversion – Not religious, which is frowned upon for allurement, coercion, and intimidation, (ironically, it’s called the freedom of religion act, where your freedom is restricted when what is necessary is a Freedom From Religion Act! – but that’s another story) but all these are actively encouraged in Political conversions and even smiled upon! How else will you term raids, promises of freebies and inauguration of projects that are again inaugurated before the next election? Often in Political Conversion, there is the famous before and after challenge and they post these pics on Social Media – from nice photogenic spots in resorts. Not as a last resort, but it’s something they have to resort to if they have to last in Politics!
Elections are a time for gaiety, innovation, social media gymnastics, yatras and promises. And it’s called the festival of Democracy! Perhaps rightly so. Lights, camera, action – it’s all there. From the games, people play to the memes in the fray. Prayers too. And revisions. History may be but electoral rolls certainly. Now you are there, now you aren’t kind of thing! Sometimes the Booth gets your name and it’s gone! vanished into thin air. And history is revised! Because it does affect history. Does it not? the revision of the electoral Roll? The question is do you care? Should you care? What if you care? Does it make a difference? Doesn’t history show that 30% per cent do not care? and 35% of the remaining 70% vote variedly, leaving 35% voting with singularity, which in effect is 25% of the whole permitted universe. And that’s the chosen few! Phew! Runoffs with compulsory voting linked to benefits would at least up the actual percentage to past the halfway mark and notional to around 40% which, whilst not enough would at least be a more fair reflection of the general view.
Oh, that would be my view! But do have your own – at least until next week, when you read my column again!
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
Disclaimer
This Article is written in the lighter vein. It hopes to bring a smile to your face, and you must not ascribe motives to its contents. There is no connection to events and characters in real life and if perchance you find a connect with any such real-life event or character, rest assured it’s purely coincidental.
