Finally, that is what the elections are about. Who will become the prime minister? Who will get posts? in the cabinet? How much money can I make?
Alliances are fluid, devoid of any ideology. It all depends on wheelings and dealings. How much money can change hands and who will offer whom the minister positions.
I know I am being cynical. But truly, there is no space for any debates. As Yogendra Yadav lamented in an article in the Hindu, no newspaper/TV channel is even discussing the manifestos. The media reports only how Narendra Modi called Congress Budiya and then Gudiya and how Priyanka Gandhi asked reporters whether she looks old. Oh for heaven's sake!
There are issues at stake. There is recession in place, food, shelter, health, education...can we talk about them for a change?
Ah, ha! There is an article in Frontline how every major party is now promising the poor cheap food. Rs 2/kg rice and Rs 3/kg rice. The Congress has in fact promised a Right to Food bill in the parliament if elected to power. Will these promises be fulfilled?
However, every thing is not dismal. There is an increase level of awareness, an eagerness to participate, and signs that politicians will not be allowed to get away with it. The shoe throwing by Jarnail Singh was just one such instance. There is an ad doing rounds in the television (I think I saw it when I was staying at IMTECH guest house)where a politician comes to ask for vote. The voter asks his qualifications. Qualifications, the politician laughs. I have been in this business for ages. Yes, agrees the voter, but what have you done. What is the proof? The ad has been issued by Janagraha in collaboration with TATA tea.
So let us see how it all turns out.
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