RIGHT CHOICE

Goa is going to the polls. The air is heavy with electioneering. Candidates are promising the sky to the voters. Allurements range from a few notes of currency to printed sarees, wristwatches with the candidates face as a dial to packets of biryani, from intoxicating alcohol to cool motorbikes.

The dilemma is who to choose: the corrupt or the communal. If we look around, we notice that every corrupt politician misuses religion to cultivate his image of “actually-a-nice-guy” and every communal politician indulges in every possible illegal and corrupt practice. And ironically we fall for the choice limited to the difference between the frying pan and the fire.

The sad state of present day politics is that it is the politicians, and not the people, who decide the choice. Choices are limited when we look at only the dimension provided by the politician, pollsters and the press. And we tend to vote for the “lesser-evil” and “winnable” candidate. I see sincere, well-meaning activist-friends take the uni-dimensional choice between the corrupt and the communal and eventual share stage with the very electoral malpractices that they have earlier abhorred.

We must develop new dimensions in defining the agenda for our politicians, not just at election-time but also otherwise. When we vote, it is not for somebody to win, but somebody we feel is the right choice. That Mr or Ms Right Choice may lose this time, but we are laying the foundation for a deserving leader to take root. And if you feel no choice is good choice, reject all of them.

Choice is not what is offered by an overwhelming situation
Alternatives are unearthed when we "Develop new dimensions"!