Part-time politicians

The Assembly elections are nearing. The political arena is warming up. Every opposition party is moving its coins to improve its political image and increase poll prospects. Even the part-time politicians who have one leg in politics and the other firmly embedded in some other activity are also in the fray. Madam sitting in the remote Kodanadu away from public contact is having secret parleys with different political outfits for poll-pact. For their part, the media too are doing a gross disservice to journalism by portraying the part-time politicians in bright colours as the real champions in the field with a grandiose background. Some dailies and weeklies take special interest in publishing their incorrect and distorted statements without verifying their veracity. They are political misfits. Naturally so, they do not have any policy or ideology, basic principle or ethic to put forward to people. With a few henchmen around they float a political party with the one and only ambition of becoming the Chief Minister. Is it that easy to form a political party and become a Chief Minister?

Just think for a moment, the enormity of the spade work, plans and preparatory arrangements that had to be gone into before founding the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the middle of 1949. A series of meetings, discussions, exchange of views, deliberations and consultations with a number of veteran members of the Dravidar Kazhagam from Madras city and almost from all the districts of the then Madras state had to be organized at different places. A lot of activity was going on during the interim period in Mint Street, Coral Merchant street, Govindappa Naicken street in the sowcarpet area in the Madras city. Members for different committees for making arrangements for the formation of the party, constitution drafting, managing funds, propaganda etc., were nominated. Arignar Anna was requested to be the General secretary of the proposed party. Proper notice had to be given for convening the meeting for the foundation of the party. So much had to be done before the inauguration of the party.

Just a week ago, a part-time politician in a party meeting ‘advised’ that ‘it was their duty to defeat the DMK in the next Assembly elections and rescue the people from its clutches.’ What for? Why should the DMK be defeated? No proper reasons were adduced. But one thing, the politician unknowingly admitted that the people of Tamil Nadu are with the DMK, which means, the public are happy and are satisfied with the performance of the DMK government under Kalaignar’s stewardship.

The headquarters of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam released an explanatory memorandum on 14th September listing out the innovative and constructive schemes implemented by the Kalaignar’s DMK government in the interest of the people of Tamil Nadu. This should be an eye-opener particularly to those who, day in and day out are issuing false statements to fool the public.

Securing 8.5 % votes by one party in all the 234 constituencies, while losing deposits in almost all of them except a few, can never be a correct yardstick to estimate its dimension and strength.

It is the magnanimity of the unparalleled Chief Minister Kalaignar who had been very sincere and straight forward in replying to all the mischievous and silly statements of the part-time politicians who indulge in politics as a hobby for time pause.

Food is the most important basic need of the people. Kalaignar’s DMK government in its 2006 Election Manifesto promised to provide one kg. of rice for Rs.2/-. The government fulfilled its promise through the public distribution system faithfully. After sometime, the Kalaignar’s DMK government on its own, by a government order, reduced the rate of the rice supplied under the PDS from Rs.2 per kg. to Re.1/- Is it for this the DMK government should be defeated?

Shelter is also an important basic need of the people. Kalaignar’s DMK government, as promised very recently in the Independence day speech, started the first phase of construction of the 21 lacs concrete houses for those now living in huts. Is it for this some anti-people miscreants want to defeat the DMK?

The DMK government is providing electricity free for agriculturists. Kalaignar Medical Insurance scheme providing high class life saving services with the 108 emergency ambulance services are all well received and gratefully appreciated by the people.

People are fully aware of the visible developments in all fields and are fully convinced of the achievements of the Kalaignar’s DMK government despite the misleading media publishing concocted versions of their choice to confuse the gullible people.

Let them not live in dream world. There is a lot to learn in politics. Vanity and verbose will never pay dividends.

(19-09-10)