Bickering; as a way of life?
What a fine infighting? How long will be it before keralites have some respite from this shameful state of affairs? 

In fact do we really care whether we are led by Karunakaran or Antony? Do we care whether Pinarayi Vijayan and VS are at the stem of Marxist party? I used to be bending towards congress during the last few years especially witnessing the worst political violence in Malabar region of Kerala and due to my conviction that Marxist party is against development. I still don’t think I am wrong. 

However if you ask me whether I still maintain good opinion about congress, please don’t ask me! I am embarrassed to talk about it; and for my change of mind I hold Mr. Karunakarans family solely responsible. 

It is disgusting to see to what level they will stoop to attain a certain political position. I believe that we are all far better individuals as long as we are not in politics. When former election commissioner said that he considers politicians ‘cancer’ I thought he went too far.  Now I am not sure whether I can really disagree with him and hold ground. 

Political leaders; do not make the mistake of thinking them as great!
Leaders are supposed to lead; show the rest of us the right path. Like what our great leaders of the freedom struggle had done. Today’s leaders; what do we call them? What path will you take if you were to follow them? After few years of training by these people you will be the most despised person. I guarantee that. 

You will surely leave your son and daughter victorious; you would leave them with many options; KPCC president, Minister or KTDC chairman being few among them. They of-course assume these positions to serve people, to serve the poor people who otherwise would be left unaided.  

I wonder when we are going to see a leader who is loved by the ordinary people; a leader who persevere for the people; a leader who’s formulas does not change every 24 hours; a leader who is happy either as a minister or as none; a leader who does not become minister to serve none but him or her. 

Development; for keralites it’s mix of Hartals (old Bandhs!)
Actually what do people want? They want real progress. In my view, real progress means jobs for people, good roads, excellent communication infrastructure, and reliable electrical power. We have none of this in order in kerala; but for one, Bandhs! Oh I said it wrong. Bandhs in its new incarnation are called Hartals! I made two trips recently to my beloved land and on both occasions was fortunate to have been presented with nice Hartals. May be next time I won’t be so fortunate; who knows? Like how God works in strange ways, our leaders serve us with all they have. 

I understand strikes. Of-course they have to be there as a tool to fight against gross injustice. But if I start taking knife at my father instead of first attempting to cry and get the things done what a violent childhood mine would have been? Hartals have to be the last resort. A recourse when all else fails! One in a few years makes sense! It may actually help achieve the objective. These days who cares for hartals? The purpose is beaten! Hartals have lost its luster. Neither the govt. nor the organizers think objective will be achieved. Since both the Govt. and opposition don’t care much about ordinary people who endure these Hartals, no one has complaint. 

Simplicity; we might have it from at least one of them.
For one thing I am proud. We have an austere CM in kerala. Although I lost confidence in my party (congress) I am still an antony man. I laud him for his down-to-earth character. I wouldn’t say more than that since he may be compromising on his other traits since he has to hold ground as the CM. You have to remember that CM is not the cabinet; I let him deviate a little from the rest of the principles he believes in. 

National Scene; India shining and Kerala struggling.
At the national level, I wonder why Soniaji does not make it clear that “I would stand aside if won in election and allow any good leader from our alliance to become the PM”. She might have done it lately but it was too late and the statement shaky. This announcement can effectively counter her foreign origin issue. I also believe that she is not a good leader to lead the party and that she will be more suitable in a very important party position implementing rules and regulations for the party. 

Local BJP’s slogan that India is shining and Kerala is struggling is true. I was all excitation when I learned about the proposed express highway, but the last I know is that some ministers want the highway rerouted through their ancestral homes. What a nice idea! May be they have a grand plan to board the express highway straight from the home so that they do not have to meet the people who cast vote for them.  

I wonder why congress and other opposition parties are not able to oppose BJP effectively. I would not believe that BJP means perfection as today’s politics is all cast and religion. While the election must be fought on the issues facing the people, electorate is wooed not by talk of development and uplift of the poor. They are persuaded by the offer for temple. In a pluralistic society like ours Ram temple shouldn’t be at least the main poll issue. Main leaders of the BJP just started recollecting about the temple promise recently; poor old men they forget things; you know! 

Like what Veerendra kumar wrote in “ramante dukham”, when asked why sending him to jungle for 14 years does not make him provocative, lord Raman apparently said “it does not qualify for being provocative”. He was all ready to go to jungle for 14 years for the upkeep of his father’s words. In the name of such a revered Ram with great graciousness, India witnessed so much violence that its ordinary men and woman must not have been subjected to.  

Now we are going to select a bunch of new leaders and send them to Delhi for representing us. I have no complaint if they are going to do just that; that is, represent us! I am afraid nobody thinks they are going to do that. Trust in the politicians is so low that if I argue for them I will be beaten up on the street. 

By T. P. Gopinath.