WHAT I GOT FOR VOTING
Posted in WHAT I GOT FOR VOTING on 03/14/2007 12:30 pm by aravind das
WHAT I GOT FOR VOTING
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As the date was coming closer, the town was getting a festive look.yes,the 'local election' was on the card.even if I was not that much interested,still diff gossips, posters, news were attracting my attention. another five days to go, so campaign was on full swing .everyday so many party workers were coming to my house as if they are our relatives or long lost friends for the same age old process of begging for vote.
Every five years or some time in less you have the same old tamasha,'mockery of great Indian democracy'.this year the city has been expanded it's limits;means more areas were added to the town,so more voters,more area.one of my friend told me that this year on wards they will get crores of sanctions as the municipality limit has been extended.so stake is high for political parties this time.
Oh,now I understood why this cut throat compition ! our maidservant laxmi told my wife that party(a) has promised Rs 500\- per vote,where as party(b) has offered a saree,steel utensils & Rs 100\- per vote.party (c)is ready for negotiation, but they want guarantee of vote.even independent candidates are not far behind.my office vehicle driver told me that he has already got an advance & a promise of getting a mobile phone if maximum votes from his lane goes for the independent candidate.
Shankar ,my builder friend complained that most of his workers are absent from work for last week onwards,due to election.he explained ; for everyday rally, each person is getting 100\- rupees & a biriyani packet ,tiffin; the male folks get liquor(bonus) & petty leaders get little extra with some other compliments.(like my driver).so who will work now in the hot sun for grueling 8-10 hours ?just go for slogan & morcha & earn handsomely per head. clubs,unions(auto,taxi) are already given diff gifts, I heard.
Ravi,my driver asked me,'sir what about your side ?I heard in individual houses & flats they are distributing more money,any party has come ?I know sir you people will never touch that kind of offer,but still they will try their level best'.just to change the topic I asked"whom will u vote" ?'who cares ,sir ?first let me get what ever is coming,after voting who will see us" ?I was bit tense,what will be the offer for me ?
Our watchman gave us our voter sl-no & area where we have to cast our vote.I opened the chits,six diff slips?all in my wife's name;my name was missing from the list.it was agonizing.jokingly wife told me,may be still you are below 18 years !I knew it was lemon & salt being added to my wound & ego.after enquiry I came to know that my name is still on the old ward where we lived 4 years back.actually nobody came to canvas us,to my utter disappointment(they think upper\middle class hardly vote)
On the voting day I alone had gone to cast my vote(wife thought voting was boring & waste of time).result was decared ater two days.the person for whom I have voted had won.laxmi was happy as she had got plenty things,ravi (driver) was more happy with his new gift- a mobile phone & cash.i was looking over my gift for casting vote-
“ AN INK MARK ON MY NAIL. .”
(it is a fiction, but put your real comments)
aravind