The Indian Political Vote Bank: A Bargain of Needs

We as Indians are well aware of political muscle flexing. Ideologies being pitted against each other for supremacy, the supremacy here is not  for the idea but the interests the leaders represent. Be it Delhi 1984, Ayodhya, Mumbai in 1992, Godhra 2002 or even Muzaffarnagar 2013 the specimens of a brutal show of power is apparent. One wonders who constitute as the muscle to such blind inhuman regimes. Is it just mere persuasion on the part of the political actors or is there a struggle for survival involved?

We have come across waves of people in political rallies. Crying out slogans and waving flags of the party concerned. Who form the base of the applause when political leaders purvey ideas of “killing and raping” opposition party people, who pick up the first shovel to a “ har har mahadev or Allah-hu- Akbar’ precedent? Are these slogans only an alliance to an ideology or is it just a veil to conceal a need? Can it be the people who support such regimes just do it out of their basic needs for survival?

Unemployment, illiteracy and poverty, in its present form, is an efficient tool for the political anarchy to harvest supporters and followers. It just takes a promise of a financial security and a notion of being counted to make a make a section branded loyalist. The fool’s paradise hence created does more harm than good. The regime plagues an entire generation. The taste of easy money the basis of which lies in the blood of others rather than one’s own sweat is never constructive. 

Syndicates of such “brand ambassadors” spring up, as a result of such inept opportunism. Examples are plenty both seen and heard. A retrospect would depict instances of wrong doers flaunting political alliances, extortion or’ hafta’ on the name of political protection or even the donation for ‘festivals’ arranged by the political actors.

The situation would remain until and unless the people understand the simple fact that their needs are being bought cheap.  The cycle should be stalled as it creates weeds in the societal and economic pasture of the country. The section gets so adapted to the set up that they are pasted to the party intensely. Once a party loses prominence this class is the worst hurt. No more inflow of easy money, no livelihood, children denied education and an easy target to the new generation party men of a new opposition.  

Something needs to change in the political realm on our country. People should be aware or beware of the addiction which leaves one high and dry. The ‘biryani’ served in the rallies should be less important as compared to the ideals. Such a social change is not possible. One can’t be an idealist running on an empty stomach. Gone are the days when people mortgaged themselves to the ideals of a party, in the present era they are mortgaged to the party fund for their own survival.   

Politics in India is at its worst form. It has grown up into a machinery that grinds such sections. A bargain of sorts runs the political agendas.  The section forms the vote bank and at the same time the muscle power for the political regime. The country would continue to be weak as long as such bargaining continues. We the citizens would always be on the losing side and keep on questioning a self serving set up. We can only pray something changes and such a purchase of needs does not form the new age political vote bank. Someday we hope the section is “taught fishing instead of being fed with it”.