Thought Garage

If you have any expectations on Politics in Andhra Pradesh, you must watch this wonderful and totally civil debate ))

The reel life ‘Mega’ star Chiranjeevi’s  real life appears to be coming to a tragic end, in Politics. Eenadu (the news paper outlet, unmistakably the opposition party TDP’s torch bearer) reported that 7 PRP MLAs and few other leaders met with party secretary Allu Aravind and proposed to dissolve and combine PRP with ruling congress party. Other news indicate about 12 MLAs ready to take a plunge while rest of the them waiting for Chiranjeevi to accompany.

Its not a big surprise to me. While Eenadu has been totally biased in interpreting events to favor TDP, it never reported lies. So I would take it as real, irrespective of whatever political spin Congress and PRP may put on to it.

“Why I pray with Love, For Chiru To Fail in Politics”

Today’s news reminded me of an email sent by a Chiranjeevi’s ardent fan after Chiranjeevi announced his entry into politics.

 

"I love Chiru more than my brother and I offered prayers today that Chiru annaya would see how bad politicians are and fail in Politics to come back to very movies that made him our beloved Hero. People around him are hungry for power, money and fame, the very things that  Chiru annayya always hated so much. I don’t want to loose a great Hero.  He resisted Politics for so long, and finally these guys got into his mind in the name of Public service.”

Read full email published on 23rd August 2008  >>Why I pray with Love, For Chiru To Fail in Politics

Here is a snapshot of Eenadu news paper that published this news on the front page. You can read online at http://www.eenadu.net.

Source: http://www.eenadu.net

Almost all key Party leaders (opportunists??) have deserted the party a while ago. A few days back, another leader(??) Devendar Goud (that left TDP, started Nava Telangana Praja Party and then joined Praja rajyam party) took a full turn and went back to Telugu Desam party.

Party Official Website Has Gone Offline Long Back

Praja Rajyam party’s official web site is long gone. The URL wasn’t reachable  for a long time.

Had it been a movie ..

If these elected MLA too leave the party, then the party is all but over. It it had been a movie, the climax would have been different.  But, however close they seem to be, reel life is entirely different from real life.

And it seems, prayers of that ardent fan have been heard. So, will Chiru go back and relive the rest of the life in fantasy reel world or take the challenge and show what it takes to become a hero in real life and fight a come back.

Well, I don’t bet my money on a political comeback.

And movies, who cares any more!

Every Political leader vowed their lives to serve the people. They also said, they have no ‘interest’ of any kind in ‘power’ but to serve the people. At least, that is what they said, before the election. For almost two months leading up to the Election, they kept on talking tirelessly, day and night, in every media outlet and public meeting, how they would like to serve the people and how they want to stand with the people in the thick and the thin of times.

Elections are over almost a month ago. How many of those leaders now stood in the midst of people? How many of them went back to people? How many of them want to campaign now with the people to solve their problems. The very problems political leaders used as their campaign slogans are still there. Be it condition of farmers, welfare, education, wages, projects or what ever.  Why aren’t they continuing their fight against corruption any more? Why aren’t they fighting on behalf of people any more? Why aren’t they organizing meetings any more?

Instead, political leaders are quite busy again with upcoming Greater Hyderabad election preparations. Studying, reviewing and analyzing how they did in the election last month. What did work and what did not work, and how to make sure everything work in the next election. Adjusting their tones, slogans and political affiliations to acquire power. To stabilize and strengthen their own party cadre.

Chiranjeevi said he came to politics because people called him. He offered to serve people till his last breath…… and lot more. Its almost a month now. Why didn’t he leave Hyderabad and went ‘back’ to people and start serving them. Why does he now believe ‘achieving power’ is the only means of serving people. Why he spends all his time building the party and preparing for the next election leaving aside the very people that called him? Doesn’t it the other way around? Start serving people and build the cadre in that.

What about the issues of the people? The people themselves? Corruption? Welfare? Farmers? ……. ! Probably, they will address them again in the next Election.  Election is not a means or a beginning to serve people. But its an end in itself for an opportunity to acquire power.

What we have so far are only Election campaigns. No campaigns that address real issues of People. We only have Party manifestos. No manifesto for the people, by the people.

Will this ever change? Lok Satta, for sure, offers glimmers of hope and promise.  But lacks the power and mechanics to expedite.

You may just beat it as featured in Sakshi TV, the congress party’s ’official’ media channel, but its a good summary of all Surveys conducted so far and all of them give a clear victory to Congress while TDP alliance comes second.

Now the big question of whether surveys are accurate enough, no body can guarantee that. But if all surveys predict the same or almost similar result, and based on past results of how surveys predicted, well, Congress may win again. Good or bad!!

Every political party alleges that everybody is seriously corrupt. And yet, each Politician, irrespective of the party he/she represents, spends as much as he/she can to BUY votes by offering primarily liquor and money. Some political parties are creative and offer sarees, cricket kits of youngsters and kind.

No Political party, Absolutely NO political party has any hint of honesty or guts to put out their account books to the public.

Source: The Hindu

I wrote a while back about the three questions each Political party must answer. So far, barring all the pep talk about ending corruption, no political party has demonstrated any transparency in the party to prove they are NOT corrupt. It appears, I am asking too much from the politicians!!!

The Real Questions ( YesToPolitics )

If there is any party that is promising to end corruption, we ask the following questions to prove that a) they are not corrupt, b) they will not resort to corruption during elections and c) they will not become corrupt once they are elected.

1. Show us the Money.

If people have to trust a party and entrust the responsibility of maintaining money of the entire state, the party must have solid strategies and books of managing party’s money first. If they can’t manage their own party money, how can we expect the party to manage the entire state.

So, be transparent and share with people your party accounting booksthat clearly show

• who contributed money to the party
• how and where are they spending each paisa of it

2. Show us the plan, not just promise !

It is quite easy for political parties to shower promises of free acres of land, money directly transferred to a family account or a hugh irrigation project that could save 1000s of agricultural families. But how can we trust the party whether it can keep its promises. To earn our trust, show the people that your party really understood the issue and fully aware of its costs in implementing it.

Show us for each Election promise

• expected number of beneficiaries 
• cost of the total project
• how long will it take to realize the project
• how do you allocate budget 
• what do you sacrifice to keep this promise

No political party can create money out of thin air. If party decide to spend on something, it is their responsibility to show where the money comes from. What other projects will be shutdown to fund this new project.

3. Share the facts

When party make any allegations against another party or person, show us the facts that made you believe so. Release all the evidence you have to the people so that people can understand your allegations and see for themselves the real picture of corruption. Telugu Desam Party’s web page sharing a few details of the Congress Party alleged scams is a good beginning. But totally inadequate to prove anything.

Answers to these three in absolute fairness and honesty would help people understand and decide which party will be the best for them.

Otherwise, there is no meaning in talking about corruption of others, when you are also just one of them.