The Conundrum of Delhi MCD elections!
8:30am — As I pick up the newspaper with my morning cup of tea, a bunch of colourful and glossy pamphlets just slip out — no these are not the advertisements of any gyms, beauty services at the doorstep or new brand of milk but advertisements of young and not so young ladies and gentlemen marketing themselves to woo me to vote for them. Yes, its that time again in the five year cycle when I feel so important and valued to be a part of democracy — this time courtesy — Delhi Municipal Corporation aka Nagar Nigam elections 2017!
Browsing through the pamphlets , I remember how in my Civics books we used to have chapters and chapters on Nagar Nigam constitution ,bylaws and election and I always wondered who these so called councillors were for my area. No, not because I wanted to congratulate them for any of the exceptional work but the clogged drains and lack of cleanliness in the colony made me wonder what they did for us and why my elders elected them! Well to ensure that I do my bit to take the revenge, I always voted as soon as I became eligible and equipped. (Over the years I have understood that being equipped was more difficult than being eligible!).The voting card, permanent and current address ,getting hold of voting slips — all these should fall in line and then and then only Election Commision would be kind enough to ink your finger with that indelible mark. Gosh! too much to ask from today’s millenial)
My childhood nostalgia gets interrupted as Shanta Bai is quick enough to grab a few pamphlets to point out — whose bindi and whose mufler she likes! She doesnt want to miss this opportunity and is prompt enough to put a demand for taking all of them on the pretence of showing it to her friends and family but I know what use is this gonna be for her, probably for wrapping up the tiffins of her kids and husband:)Appears to me a waste of election campaigning funds!
I try to find out if Shanta Bai is voting but figure out that again it is the lack of being “equipped” that she cant vote. Yes she has Aaadhar Card, a Ration card but not the Voting Card. I hope someone from Election Commision reads this blog — why do we need a separate Voting card when Aadhar is there ? And with Mr Modi’s Digital India dream where Aadhar is also getting incorporated with BHIM app — may be consider a feature enhancement for BHIM x.0 to include the Election card as well as the voting slip?
10:30am — Am on a Delhi road, driving! I notice many autorickshaws , rickshaws as well as cars being used for election canvassing wrapped up with banners and posters so very well that you cant even make out their actual colour and complexion! Not just that, someone just overpowers Arijit playing in my car — Yes that’s an autorickshaw playing — “Ek ho gaye tum aur kamal to ban gayee zindagi re, nikali gandagi colony se aur ban gaye sab kaam re, humma, humma” . As if thats not enough for my dose of morning music , there is another one— “Channa mereya mereya — muhar to haath pe lagana beliya” . I cant just stop myself but smile — Good fun going on in the city!
2:30pm — I get a call from the Estate Manager of my society. “Madamji, aaj Mr promise and Ms Super promise aa rahe hain — Jhaadu aur Seeti ke saath aur kal Kamal aur Bat ke aane ka plan hai”. I am flabbergasted as I try to make out what he means. Actually as one of the key office bearers of my society, I am invited for an interaction with the prospective candidates from my ward so as to put up the demands and requests of residents. I congratulate him for his great sense of humour and feel excited on this opportunity of interacting with these prospects. The bright Civics student and a responsible citizen in me is all curious to get answers to a long list of questions and understand the capability of those whom I would be trusting with my vote.
The next two evenings I am done with all — kamal, haath, jhaadu, seeti, cup-plate and bat. While all of them have background of social service to various levels, the incumbent party seems over confident and the first timers, though educated dont have any concrete plans! All of them know and do one thing very nicely — bitching about other parties and candidates who are contesting!
Netaji had said during the fight for Indian independence — Tum mujhe khoon do, mein tumhein azaadi doonga! The candidates in the foray of Delhi MCD elections are saying it all — Tum mujhe vote do, mein tumhein bijli, paani, safaai, padhai doonga (you can customize and add to the list as per your wish:))
Dear prospective councillor, I want transparency — in your work, ethics and communication in ensuring that the grants reach the citizens for whom they are meant to be be! I want your accessibility — to come and speak to me as you are doing today. I want true representation — so that you can understand, speak and represent my genuine demands. If you promise me that — safaai, paani, bijli and everything will fall in place!
23rd April 2017 is an important day for me and should be for all Delhites! With right comes duty and I get ready to exercise my most precious right! My yogdaan , my matdaan! Have you done your ground work and made up your mind?
