Liberal flow of money, liquor makes mockery of democracy

Anantapur: A bitter battle of mudslinging, character assassination campaign by rival political parties TDP, YSRCP, Jana Sena and BJP marked the end of campaigning for the first phase of polling scheduled on April 11.

The bitterly fought ugly battle of words and accusations against one another by the four political parties came to a grinding halt on Tuesday at 6 pm. Loud speakers blaring political songs on party ideology and star campaigners and topless vehicles fitted with loud speakers dubbed as 'Prachara Rathams' filled the air creating unbearable sound pollution from dawn to dusk.

Every day, tea stalls, coffee houses, and restaurants filled with people discussed nothing but politics and winning chances of mainline political parties. Friendly bets have become the order of the day. Some betters are confident that TDP will romp home and others see something new in the air.

Election campaigns particularly of TDP and YSRCP ran amidst complaints by thousands about unsolicited deletion of their names from the electoral list. The mainline parties accused each other of deleting the names of the supporters of the rival political parties.

While liquor and money is flowing on an unprecedented scale, the flow of money is far more than liquor. Voters are having a field day enjoying free money from all political parties. The TDP and the YSRCP are leaving no stone unturned to purchase votes. The voters have become wiser.

Although the political parties think that they have purchased votes by giving Rs 2,000-3,000 per head, at the end of the day, the voter who collects money from every party is still left with a choice, the choice to select and vote.

The voter ultimately is using discretion and voting for the party of his or her choice. Each family with a minimum of 4-5 voters is getting Rs 20,000 minimum incentives from mainline political parties. In constituencies like Raptadu, even Rs 5,000 is being offered for a vote. In Dharmavaram constituency, Rs 10,000 family package is implemented.

When compared to the massive flow of money, cash caught while being transported by law enforcing agencies is only a trickle and is far less than the magnitude caught in 2014 elections. In 2019 elections, leaders and voters have become smarter. The biggest fraud on democracy is that people are partners in the dirty game and shady deals.

Even Jana Sena Party with all its lofty ideals in a different is also part of the game where ever the candidates are wealthy and can afford to spend. One spokesperson of a national party told The Hans India that they are disbursing Rs 3,000 per vote in every household. The magnitude of money flow in the district only makes a mockery of election observers, so called.

One voter named Murthy said that he and her mother were given Rs 4,000 by the TDP and Rs 3,000 by YSRCP. He said that he is not feeling guilty for taking bribes for votes as they are only returning the tax payers money in a different form. Murthy proudly says that he still retained his choice to vote for the party and candidate of his choice. Huge money is expected to flow in the next 24 hours along with liquor.