Gearing Up for the Next! What’s New?: Elections 2014

By Liz Maria Kuriakose

The election bells are ringing! History bounds to change. A new phase is evolving and waits to be unleashed. This is what we, the aam-admi expects. But is it so? Or is it like one among those old fairy tales which though unrealistic elates one within?

As J F Clarke said, ‘A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation’. The days have come, when aam admi acquires the status of ‘lords’. The value of a finger sky rockets much more than the stock prices at the Sensex. For the next couple of years, you may not experience any worth, but these days will be memorable as the days in which your citizenship is actually recognized.

The innumerable bills which get passed on the days prior to the elections are simply a matter of farce. The failure lies in the fact that these bills take longer to get implemented than usual. The extensive affection for the minorities reaches its peak around the same time. The minorities are a much sought-after category followed by the people in the poverty driven slums. Grant of ‘Special Status’ to states, languages and communities is on. Regional political parties are busy creating ‘Third, fourth and Fifth Fronts’ in order to lead in the front, not to serve at the back. These fronts are supposedly created for the dramatic competition. A 10% hike in the Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief for the Government employees has definitely enhanced their happiness but is it on the wake of elections?

Who knows, we can speculate though! Elections appear unaccomplished without the catchy one-liners on every wall and hoarding. If Congress comes up with, ‘Main Nahi, Hum’(It’s not me, it’s us) and ‘Har Haath Shakti, Har Haath Tarakki’(power in every hand, progress to everyone), BJP is not far behind with ‘Nayi Sochh, Nayi Umeed’ (New Thinking, New Hope). The political parties are well-versed in inventing innovative taglines and have proved their merit. The infant among the elders, ‘The Common Man’s Party’ has paved its way into the hearts of men with ‘Main Bhi Aam Aadmi’(I’m a common man too). As the sloganeering progresses, our leaders haven’t forgotten about the national beverage, Chai… (We are yet to accept liquor officially!) NaMo’s Chai pe Charcha, Rahul Gandhi’s RaGa, Priyanka’s Khichdi, Amma’s Idlis, Mamata’s ‘Maccher Jhol’ are indeed new delicacies to be added to the Master Chef’s Cookbook. These seasonal recipes should not be missed. As the coffee is being brewed, the idiot box has not stood behind the scene. The TRPs are shooting high as the channel runs from the interview of one leader to another.

The professionals at the job can’t leave even a single politician without grilling. The numerous opinion polls, ads aired on television and radio, promises, slogans, banners, campaigns, interviews, mass meetings, and the loudspeakers are so integral to the whole process of election. Be it in 2014 or later, the whole drama is going to remain more or less the same, except for the evolution of new tactics to lure people. The publicity via the social networking sites are on. So does the print media. The Central as well as the State Governments are in full swing publicizing their achievements in the past years in the newspapers covering pages and pages. Also, the parties have started their campaigns to collect funds too. The fully packed schedules of the leaders moving from one house to another, is sure to induce at least a few votes. Leaders fly over to grab votes via airplanes and helicopters. Money flows out, the opportunity costs of appropriating the amount to some useful activity rises.

Well, by now I’m sure; you would have decided whom to vote for. There is a hardly a month ahead. The politicians have been testing their public speaking skills. The time is not far when their actions will be accounted for too. For now, let the drama go on. Be it over tea or coffee; let’s see how far their cool slogans play wonders. The power of the common man lies in the one vote he is entitled to. Let’s see if the new ‘Fronts’ are successful, whether people approve of the new recipes,

Whether spending money on the newspaper ads were worthwhile or the Chai was sweet enough! Yes, the destiny of the nation lies in the hands of its subjects who are smart enough to identify these election gimmicks!

Let it not be as Robert Orben writes, ‘Do you ever get the feeling that the only reason we have elections is to find out if the polls were right?’

Happy Election Time and Enjoy Voting!

Liz is a student of Economics Honors at St Stephen’s College, Delhi. She is interested in singing and compering events. Reading, writing and listening to music are my hobbies. Her greatest inspiration in writing is definitely my mother. Family and friends are integral part of my life. She hopes to serve the nation and work towards its development.