By D N Singh
Let’s take it as an anonymous narrative yet this is the truth which overwhelmingly prevails in the Indian electoral politics.
Last week one (name hidden) happened to meet a former M.L.A of a state in South. They know each other.
A reasonably decent politician. While departing, he was requested him to tell frankly what was the amount spent by him during the elections contested by him. His response: “I first contested Assembly election in 2006. I was successful. Spent Rs. 60 lakhs. Contested again in 2011 in the same constituency and lost. Spent nearly Rs 2.5 cr. (In the course of 5 years, the poll expenses jumped up by four times)”.
To the next Q: What is the amount needed to contest an Assembly election now? Leader: At least Rs 18 to 20 crores required now. Earlier the party cadre would come out enthusiastically to work. We used to provide them only tea. Later we served them food.
Now we have to give them food, liquor and cash to bring them out of their houses. But he didn’t pay any money to the voters in his first election. Later we started giving money to the poorer sections. The pity today is that the public (including educated and affluent) are openly demanding money from us. Don’t blame the politicians. You have to blame the people who are degenerated so horribly”.
Elections are a money spinning big gambling now. Really worried about our people and the nation. It is everywhere and happens with every political party under the Sun.
Call it freebie or give any other name the word moral made a pathetic departure from politics. And democracy has reduced to be a fossilized concept only and vast disappearing from the political firmament. Pity that think-tanks merely doodle over it but on the ground it’s all same where moral equivalence takes new dips with time passing. One thing is correct that, it is the people who genuflect to lures in cash or kind.
No mechanism to put a halt to this malaise and the Election Commission somehow remains with its blinkers on!
