‘Hot box’ democracy in urban local elections!

Another war of independence to restore democracy from monetary democracy?

Success! Success! Success!!

Himalayan victory in urban local elections!!

Win for gift items!

Win for money laundering!

Victory for Anklet!

Victory for the Silver Vessels!

Win for the hot boxes!

Success for the silk saree!

Success for biryani packets!

Win for 1000, 5000 Rupees!

Success for wine bottles!

Success for chicken and lamb feasts in mangrove and coconut groves!

Victory for caste restrictions!

Success for controlling the town!

Win for the auction of posts!

All in all, a landslide victory for the ruling party!

Unprecedented success!!

Victory by making everyone who competed lose the deposit!!

Massive failure for Indian democracy!!!

When India fought for independence, it was still a thousand years before Indians understood ‘democracy, equality, liberty and citizenship! There are reports that Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of the British government that ruled India in the 1940s, made a comment. We do not agree with his opinion. However, the elections that have been held in Tamil Nadu for the last few years raises the biggest question: ‘Do we deserve democracy’? 

Votes are marketed without the slightest hesitation. There seems to be no shame or embarrassment for either the seller or the buyer of the votes in it. Is self-esteem barely there in them is the question mark. They are the ones who are going to lead India. None of the North Indian people, who may still be extremely poor, say, ‘We will vote only if they pay money’. They may even be victims of famine but their hearts are pure. They understand the value of their votes.

For example, in 1975, Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency. One and a half years later, she withdrew from the 1977 declaration of emergency and held elections. The people of the ‘Rae Bareli’ constituency, which had repeatedly helped Indira Gandhi win that election, defeated her. She also defeated her son Sanjay Gandhi and Congress failed. The people of the northern state thought politically and carried out regime change. Then came the Janata regime which was overthrown in just two years due to the lack of unity among the Janata Party’s leaders who came to power. Not only did they defeat Indira Gandhi in the same constituency in which they defeated her two years ago, but they also brought the Congress party to power with unprecedented force, which is political awareness.

But what is happening in Tamil Nadu? Beginning in the by-elections of 2002, they won the 2016 assembly elections and the 2019 parliamentary elections by publicly paying all voters. They did the same to the public in the 2021 assembly elections. We must condemn this anarchic act and call for the cancellation of the 2021 assembly elections. We should not start counting votes as we filed a case in the Madras High Court. A judge ruled that it was ‘for publicity’ and left Tamil Nadu.

At that time no political party in Tamil Nadu came forward to support our view. Now everyone is shouting when it hurts. It makes me a little happy that they now understand how dangerous Tamil Nadu politics is. However, by the time the by-elections begin and grow on to the Assembly and Parliamentary elections, the community will have to spend crores of rupees on the posts of Panchayat Ward Member, Panchayat President, Union Councillor, District Councillor, Municipal Councillor, which can be held at the village level, and win the votes by publicly buying and holding the post somehow. If the consensus political parties in Tamil Nadu do injustice against not coming together to put an end to this, democracy in Tamil Nadu will be buried in the abyss.

Just as some families form new ‘aristocratic classes’ of chief ministers, ministers, parliamentarians and legislators, so do the younger aristocrats in their localities. In many municipalities since the announcement of the last urban local elections, councillor elections have been held without bidding by the respective castes in the municipal areas. Those who can afford it are successful. In some towns they imposed town control and succeeded by paying the money they owed to whomever they wished. In some places, no one competed for fear of scuffles and fights.

Beyond all this, these are the only places where elections can be held. Many candidates in many corporations are paying between 1000 and 3000 rupees per voter. It is reported that an ordinary corporation councilor has spent Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore for his post. These are all incidents that took place yesterday 17.02.2022 till 6 pm. No one knows what will happen until the evening of 19.02.2022 when the voting will end. These are fulfilled with all powers under the oath and supervision of the ministers.

From time to time they publish a message saying ‘Flying Squad, Flying Squad’ to show that the Election Commission is one. ‘So many lakhs were seized by seizing even the money of the merchants who might go into ordinary business; Lakhs have been seized. ‘ But in Tamil Nadu, in 21 corporations, 150 municipalities and 528 municipalities, all sorts of abuses have taken place. Looking at it, did the Election Commission of Tamil Nadu take action to stop it even in one place? If not, they are facing the election by tying the hands and feet of the Election Commission. The Electoral Commission is periodically out of breath to survive.

So much atrocity – no anarchy is going to come out in any media. The ruling party wins in all the corporations, municipalities and municipalities! Success! Success!! Wealthy people and collectors are waiting to put ‘Flash News’ on TV in a big nutshell that ‘the people are in favour of continuing the ten-month rule for another hundred years’. Elections for mayor will follow. Those positions will also be seized. Great success after that!! News in magazines in big headlines. The people of the country need to realise all this. Advertisements will be coming page by page in all languages, including Hindi, on this success in big headlines in all the publications  across Tamil Nadu.

Many heads of state will praise this colossal victory, as did those from Romania, Bulgaria and Albania. Yes, winning elections in Tamil Nadu is not democracy. Excessive corruption, abuse of power, lying, inversion, and deception will succeed. Democracy will be defeated again and again. These innocent and deceived Tamil people will go through their lives without the slightest remorse for wanting to break those loopholes and sell their votes for a thousand or two thousand. They have no worries about tomorrow or the country. The buyer of the ballot is not worried about this either. The seller has no conscience about this.

Three years after winning the 2019 parliamentary elections by making false promises, NEET has not been abolished; Winning the 2021 Assembly elections and promising to abolish NEET with a single signature, they have not been able to put a single signature to abolish NEET for 10 months even after coming to power. But they are going to win the municipal, corporation and municipal elections as councillors and abolish NEET! Father and son again share the same myth in this local election. What to do when the people of Tamil Nadu believe this too.

I am reluctant to accept Churchill’s statement that ‘it takes a thousand years for Indians to understand even the margins of democracy’. It is probably true and it has to be regurgitated with a very heavy heart.

Will democracy return to Tamil Nadu? Will it sustain?

Will there be a need for another freedom struggle to restore it?

Let’s wait and see!

Dr. K. Krishnasamy, MD

Founder & President

Puthiya Tamilagam Party

18.02.2022