“The name of the game is Elections”

 “The name of the game is Elections”

 The name of the game is Elections. Experienced people who know the pulse of the electorate, know how, and when to pamper people to get they vote for them, play the game. Every one detests a game of the sort,. However, when elections are round the corner, then the stages are set and out are the players to start the wooing game.

 However, the present politics has many hurdles for its players to cross. The intending persons have to have a lobby doing round in their favour. Local lists are prepared and names of the aspirants go up and down in terms of election committee’s weight age. Finally, a few of the names are short-listed and it is the short listed aspirants who now need to get their names pushed from among the finalists.

 Once the high command announces the name of its official candidate to contest, the motion for mellowing the other top listed persons is set forth. The officially declared candidates try to make peace with the other finalists. This is achieved at times, at times efforts are made to get the official candidate taste defeat at the hustings.

 Some times, some one stands as an independent to bleak the chances of the officially declared candidate. A few cross over to other parties who may adopt them to be their official candidate Vis a Vis the main party’s candidate. Workers are wooed to cross to their side. The din reaches its crescendo.

 The campaign period is devoted to mudslinging, maligning the image of the opponent. It is true now that if you want all the negative details of a person, push him to contest an election, The opponents will provide all details. Such is the scene during an election.

 The goodies doled out during elections have also become significant. Liquor distribution, honoring persons of different parties on your platform and endowing them with positions in the party is a common practice. However, even the party bosses do not keep knowledge as to who among them was endowed with which position, once the elections are over.

 Party commitments of such leaders go awry at the denial of ticket to contest elections; miffed at high command’s decisions the leaders that are denied party tickets for contesting elections, switch loyalty to party in seconds.  Those once claiming to be loyalists of the party, go berserk at denial of election ticket to them. It seems allotting ticket can only ensure one continued loyalty to the party.

 These so-called leaders to save Democracy and democratic institutions of the country do all these acts. In order to win the election, populist slogans are coined, false promises are made and the voter is promised the moon. As all the promises made during the elections are simply forgotten by these leaders once the election results get declared.

 t is ironical that the process is going on for decades now and that the process of conducting elections in the same manner is getting stronger. Whereas with the passing of time, mature dictums should find place in the system, it is infact being deteriorated. As if, the process of elections is getting murkier and concentrated in the wealth and muscle power.

 Will the process of election ever be emancipated?

 Satish Chandra Sharma,

General Secretary,

Chandigarh Social Welfare Council,

Cell: 988 255 128