The recent municipal elections held in Telangana last December proved to be an all-out assault on the senses, with music being played at full decibel to woo voters. The noise levels were so bad at times that one could not even hear the TV in one’s home, which was particularly irksome at a time when we are confined to our homes owing to the pandemic.
As I watched the crowds, most without masks, jostling for space to hear candidates make their usual tall promises, I wondered why people weren’t interested in making the candidates more accountable by asking them how they were going to improve amenities for citizens. Then I told myself that the incessant music seemed to draw the crowds so why should they bother with deep discourse.
However I was pleasantly surprised to read about some residential welfare associations taking the lead to make candidates aware of the importance of fulfilling their promises. In return for garnering votes for those standing for election, these associations invited the candidates of various parties to interactive meetings with residents and apprised them of what needed to be prioritised to ensure grievances were addressed.
In fact, some of these associations went to the extent of entering into agreements with the candidates in the presence of a notary!
It was amusing to read the promises made by different parties in the run-up to the polls, with each trying to outdo the other in announcements of their largesse if voted to power. One can only laugh at these promises which will never be fulfilled when one remembers that the state is cash-strapped after months of lockdown and loss of jobs and income.
The recent deluge that flooded many parts of Hyderabad took its toll as promises of cash assistance to those affected were not fully realised. Some parties took advantage of this lapse by raising the ante, saying that they would double the amount. And where will the money come from? From us taxpayers of course and certainly not from the pocket of politicians.
Realising that people’s worst fears were with regard to Coronavirus, some cashed in on this, promising free vaccines. Of course this announcement was immediately slammed by others as an election gimmick.
And it was not just politicians who were making hay while the sun shone. There is election tourism now. A travel agency pitched the country’s recent parliamentary election as a tour option, offering visitors a chance to soak in the excitement of the world’s largest democratic exercise.
The package included attendance at rallies, engaging with voters and meeting candidates. A sweet shop in Kolkata designed sweets bearing the logos and symbols of each party.
Although it was only a municipal election here, there was a fair amount of coverage as the issues involved affect all of us. Day after day we read complaints in the newspaper about woeful amenities such as shortage of water, potholes on roads, lack of maintenance of existing infrastructure and garbage strewn everywhere. The blame also lies with the people themselves. There is rampant misuse of facilities provided by the government.
I have seen people tossing paper and plastic bags on the road with scant regard for the municipal workers who have just cleaned the area. When I try to make a litterbug aware of his or her actions, I am stared at like I am crazy and I can almost hear what they are thinking of this woman who is telling them off for throwing something on the road as if it were her house that is being messed up.
If all of us were more conscientious about how our actions affect others, we would have less to complain about and not have to depend on others to make things better for us.
Vanaja Rao is a freelance writer based in Hyderabad, India
