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Those Pricey Netas


Some three or four years ago, a former student of mine who was then a budding leader of a national political party, told me that he could “sell” me a party ticket for Rs 5 crore.  The sum astounded me.  “It’s nothing, sir,” he reassured me, “I’ll teach you how to get that amount back in a month’s time once you win the election.”

When I heard Aam Aadmi Party’s lament that the BJP was trying to buy its MLA for Rs 4 crore, it didn’t surprise me.  If people are ready to buy party tickets before the election for crores of rupees, the neta’s price after winning the election should be a double digit crore.  Four crore is rather cheap, I think, for a sitting MLA.  Is that why AAP decided to cry foul?

Delhi BJP vice president, Sher Singh Dagar, reacted very formulaically.  “If it is proved I’ll not only resign from the party, but from politics itself,” he said.  Every neta worth his sodium chloride knows how to plug any hole with darkness.  If you are not a master of darkness, you can’t be a neta, in the first place.  Once you become a neta, you will find it painful to come out into sunshine.  The air-conditioned comfort of the dark halls and alleys will make light unbearable.


Once you’re used to those halls and alleys, whenever any challenge is levelled against you ,you can boldly place your palm on your heart and swear that you would quit politics if the charge is ever proved.  You know it won’t be proved.  That is the art of plugging holes with darkness.  Such plugs are costly, though.  In politics everything is costly, except the citizen who votes each time hoping for a brighter tomorrow.

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  1. UnknownSeptember 9, 2014 at 12:32 PM

    I have dreams of entering politics someday but I just don't have it in me to buy everything with money. Seeing your post I have understood I cant become a neta for obvious reasons( don't have the money or that level of cheapness). You an me cast our votes and feel happy when something nice is done and can do nothing more than feel sick in our stomachs when we see that our hard earned money; the taxes we pay are just filling up pockets and lockers of various netas.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 9, 2014 at 4:50 PM

      You want to do service to the nation entering politics but the price is too high for you, Athena. Even your own service comes at a high price in our country, you see.

      Delete
  2. Ravish ManiSeptember 9, 2014 at 1:44 PM

    Matheikal, it isn't only the netas have price but a citizen too. They also bribe citizens for voting in election. If such citizens have to elect their leaders what would one expect from them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 9, 2014 at 4:50 PM

      It's a mutual process, I agree, Ravish. Money flows this way and that. And after all those transactions are done, we preach morality.

      Delete
  3. Datta GhoshSeptember 9, 2014 at 3:48 PM

    I am thinking should I comment or not comment. Commenting can land me in jail, brand me a terrorist even I can get rapped and murdered....yes I live in India.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 9, 2014 at 4:51 PM

      True, it's a slippery ground we tread on. But fortunately there are still people bringing the truth out, you see.

      Delete
  4. Renu VyasSeptember 9, 2014 at 5:15 PM

    "In politics everything is costly, except the citizen who votes each time hoping for a brighter tomorrow."
    A shameful reality..you described it well Sir.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 9, 2014 at 10:07 PM

      The country seems to offer so little for us, ordinary citizens , to be proud of. Shameful indeed, Renu.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2014 at 8:51 PM

    If power do corrupt politics is the epitome of that...a sensible post

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 9, 2014 at 10:09 PM

      And India may top among the list of corrupt countries though we now have a govt that promised to root out corruption, bring back black money and give us achche din.

      Delete
  6. Roohi BhatnagarSeptember 9, 2014 at 10:23 PM

    What a shame!! So much greed..

    ReplyDelete
  7. Vinay NagarajuSeptember 10, 2014 at 11:38 AM

    Such a shame! A little shocked to read this. Selling a party ticket for 5 crore? And promising to get back within a month? Absolute Shame!!
    "In politics everything is costly, except the citizen who votes each time hoping for a brighter tomorrow." Rightly said! Such an insult for the honest voters

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 11, 2014 at 11:43 AM

      Nowadays people in political circles speak in terms of lakhs of crores, Vinay.

      Delete
  8. Ismail.April 24, 2015 at 9:55 PM

    Nice post. Please check my blog too.
    www.wonderremedies.blogspot.in

    ReplyDelete

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