If our Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was alive this day, he would have wept bitterly seeing the political system he founded to decentralise the form of government at village level has almost collapsed. A few of the panchayats now function as hubs of corruption, the grassroots of the future politicians are imbedded from this level some of who are tomorrow’s MLAs and MPs.
As another voting session begins today, let us hope that the people use their independent might to elect only good candidates whose vision is in the interest of the villagers, those with proven social work before becoming politicians. Use of money power, goondaism, corruption and nepotism should be rejected. People should be wise to reject candidates who display these qualities. The presumption that a typical voter wants his politician to be a representation of the common man is fundamentally wrong today, some of the politicians think they are a special class of human beings who need not be like regular people, but they are not ashamed in begging for votes at the time of elections.
On this day of voting for the panchayats, let good prevail over evil. Let people be self-empowered to elect only good candidates specially those without criminal records, who are idols of the community with moral values.
Anna Hazare has said several times that he would lose his deposit if he contests an election. His reason is that the political system is run by money and muscle power. Can we prove him wrong today at least in our panchayat elections?
