It comes once in five years. And when it arrives, it creates an air of excitement in the entire country. The entire media (electronic as well as the print) is in cut throat competition to report as things happens. And it is back again- The Kumbh Mela of Democracy. The elections to the 15th Lok Sabha and to some state assemblies are going to be held in April and May with the decision on 16th May 2009.
I am in Nirmal (AP). It is small town with a population around 1 lakh. The villages surrounding Nirmal are arguably some of the smallest units of the country and I am witnessing how election drama actually happens at this base level. There is an assembly election here along with the Lok Sabha polls. As far as the assembly election is concerned we have a triangular fight between the Congress, The Telangana Rashtra Samiti + Telugu Desam Party (Mahakutami – the grand alliance - as it is called) and new entrant Praja Rajyam Party – recently established by the south Indian superstar Chiranjeevi. The candidates are Mr. Allola Indrakaran Reddy (Congress), Mr. Sri Hari Rao (TRS + TDP) and Mr. M. Reddy (PRP).
While the selection of the congress candidate was obvious, the declaration of the other two candidates was a big drama with Mr. M. Reddy as well as Mr. Sri Hari Rao both vying a ticket from the TDP and TRS respectively. But as the two parties are in alliance only one had to get it. It so happened that in the seat sharing arrangement between the two parties – Nirmal – was granted to TRS and hence the seat went Mr. Sri Hari Rao. Mr. Reddy subsequently joined PRP and got the ticket. Of course the story of Mr. Reddy and Mr. Rao is not as simple as it is appearing. The politics runs far deeper as is being discussed among the locals here in Nirmal. Mr. Chandrababu Naidu – the TDP Boss- had promised a ticket to Mr. Reddy. The primary reason why a young leader like Mr. Reddy was denied the ticket by the TDP was the senior TDP leader who does not want a threat to emerge challenging his own existence in the local politics. In fact, I read in the Times of India that the joint committee formed by the TDP and TRS to discuss the seat sharing arrangement had this senior leader as team member. So it is obvious that he played his role with clinical precision to give Nirmal seat to TRS.
The elections are going to be held on
While I watch the intelligent (?) debates on various channels between different political leaders the vast difference between these debates and the ground reality does not escape my mind.
