Kerala Assembly Elections -- Part4 - Campaign

Final list of candidates who are deseperate to serve people is finalized. Candidates are running from pillar to post in bright sunny,extremely warm and dusty days to ensure they reach every nook and corner of their constituency and meet as many voters as possible. Early days the focus was on meeting individual voters. These days it has changed a bit. There are some people called "Affluent Citizens" who seem to have the power to influence a huge vote bank. It could be  any one or all of the following : the rich man of the town, the social worker, the eminent personality, the priest, the community leader, fund raiser, business men or even Goonda Leader of the area. These distinguished people seem to have direct influence on their followers and these candidates after sun set will be busy wooing these power centers. Early days I never believed in such super powers. But off late with the emphasis, respect and fear candidates have for them, I feel their powers are genuine. Also, almost all candidates whom I know want to avoid a segment of voters completely - Educated Middle Class families. One of the candidate told me in person, they are not worth our time. This class constitute the so called Swing Factor. They cannot be influenced by lip service, they listen to their community leaders but hardly obey their orders and will most likely form an opinion by themselves based on candidate's personality, burning locale issues, campaign topics etc etc. This class takes Rational Decisions and might vote across party boundaries. Also educated middle class families mostly live away from their permenant address and most likely will not travel back home to cast the vote (Unless, Unless, Unless they are pro communist).
Candidates try to woo voters in bulk.. first in terms of communal divide, second in terms of economic divide. there is huge focus at so called colonies where BPL and just above BPL families live. Almost all the sops announced in election manifesto is directly aiming these 2 segments.
Both Fronts says Development and Social welfare are their KEY topics. but take a look what makes news these days

Helicopter rides, C M's double face, DM's double face, Palmoil case, Lavlin case, P sasi, P K Kunjalikutty, Ice cream case, In party fight in Communist Party, who will be the CM if congress come to power, Corruption allegation against Oommen Chandy and Ramesh Chennithala, Idamalayar Case, R Balakrishna Pillai, sex offenses in kerala and who are the culprits behind it, VIP in kiliroor case, Sindhu Joy and her so far clandestine passion for religion and congress, Sobhana George and her 180 degree turns, who is the father of smart city, corruption by CM 's son, Man handling by CPM MLA, Man handling by CPI Minister, Land encroachments in Munnar and everywhere, are actions against such crimes fair or not, Corruption by Central Govt, Rahul Gandhi and his handpicked candidates, Marxist Party's view of sexual harassment by Prakash Karat, Disrespect towards K karunakaran's Soul by denying Assembly seat for his followers nominated by his daugher and son (that's the best logic i heard in recent times), On air drama by dejected "Service Aspirants"

Did anyone of you notice any development, progressiveness, social welfare in any of the key election topics above mentioned? if you haven't, you won't take any time to realize the hypocracy of the 2 fronts. I'm afraid, there is a so called "Syndicate" as often referred by some prominent leaders. This syndicate has representatives from all parties and other stake holders. they take terms in assuming offices and no matter who rules, this syndicate will control all wealth and distribute it fairly among stake holders. Rest everything is drama and entertainment for people.

Some of the key issues that should have stayed on top of everything should have been
Economic growth of state, Agricultural challenges, solutions and food safety, social security and welfare for all, Health for all, Industrial policy for state, how to gather wind in IT boom, Education and employment of youth, Collapse of law and order in state, Controlling and elminating various mafias running the state including sand, black money, real estate, sex, financial crimes and corruption, corruption in politics, civil service, police and judiciary and how to change it, inflation, political instability in ME, it's repecursions in kerala, ever increasing commodity prices, infrastructure development in kerala, urban development in cities, rural development in villages, power security and it's consequences, water management, dwindling forests and greencover, natural disasters and after effect management, communal harmony, terrorist roots in kerala, comprehensive development vision, transportation agonies in the state, safety for life and property in state, self sustainable groups among low income category, value added produces from natural resources, income for less previleged through applied technology based on market demands and the list can tend to infinity.

I wonder why no one, including the younger candidates who claim to be having new vision about development, is interested about these topics. Instead, we focus extremely transient, short cited, hollow issues just to create an eyewash. Visual Media is also responsible for this in a big way. they will never ever give neither attention nor air time to a leader who is genuine, subtle, gentle and politically right always. instead they look for "sensations" and "yellow valued" news.

So far in this campaign, there is no single political theme that's presented across the state. it's highly localized campaign so far catering to the pressure groups, community requests and playing it safe kind of strategizing.

I am not sure how a quality improvement program can be applied to politics. But I really feel in this era of globalization, it's very very critical for all of us to remain competitive. we are not safe within our borders. You can notice globalization creeping into our houses in various forms whether its the equipments, consumables, food habits, brands or at least in some cases even to thinking. we need a government that really understand the complexities of international politics, how to safe guard interests (and that's not just about being anti american and anti west), how to mobilize the economy of the country to face the challenges globalization put forth. how to mobilize its people to reap advantage of the umpteen opportunities globalization gifts us. for that we need educated, tech savvy visionary leaders (and don't read it as rich men with niche tastes..someone said mamootty is very forward thinking, the reason stated, he has all latest accessories ..(No intentions to state Mammootty is non progressive but want to highlight that logic is malicious) ) who posses higher standards for self integrity, who are highly sensible, sensitive and transparent. such leaders are disappearing from our political horizon..i can think of only a handful of names and that unfortunately doesn't have any young men (leaving apart couple of CPM MLA s. but you never know what happens to them. the moment their sense of judgement conflict with that of their party, they move to oblivion.) This is a highly disturbing trend. This has something do with current system of "making leaders".

It's no secret that Full time politicians and the system of full time politics is fueling corruption,favoritism and communal divide. Young men who jump into politics on idealogical frenzy soon realize that could easily be a livelihood too. Then it becomes a profession where all income go unaccounted. Most of the men get an opportunity (if at all) to bear office after couple of decades of sweating (how they sweat is a very creative topic that can be a blog by itself), hardships and economic suffering. their value system would have eroded long ago and then it's all about making hay while sun shines. Parties should (Infact marxist party is actually promoting it significantly) be reciprocative to part time politics too. If there is a part time politics machinary in place, people who are working (that's the most common case) and attach to idealogies (and that's not UNIONS!!!, again another topic to write) while they focus at work, family upbringing and financial saftety. at some juncture, few of them can go to people asking for a term to represent them, voice the concerns and fight for them. if this practice get more acceptance, then people who hold higher degree of values can easily transform to leaders without scarificing their youth for no noble cause. it will also force lot of these self employed political entrepreneurs to look for other avenues for their daily bread.  It's high time some rules come into play too.
Govt shouldn't be a monopoly of few in left and right fronts. may be after 2 terms as ministers and 4 terms as representatives, they should take forced retirement from parliamentary politics for next 2 consecutive terms. they can continue with activism. This is also serve another fundamental purpose of democracy. Opportunity for all !!!. That will also stop leaders creating lobbyist loyalist factions for personal gains.

so why not this idea of part time politics? How about a "retrogressing" clause??
To become a candidate, you should worked for 10 years in any capacity ??(be it an agricultural worker to president of a corporate). Politics as an employment option should be discouraged.

I think this time I should expect some beating. I request people who doesn't like the ideas to be harsh on me and suggest much better alternatives..I will join you

Sudheer M