Saturday, May 12, 2007

Elections

Two elections.

One held in a poor, crime-ridden state of India - UP. Multi-party system. Illiterate people. Yet, it's heralded by one and all as free and fair. The Election Commission and the police get their act together, and the state returns a resounding victory. The government of Mulayam Singh is voted out, and Mayawati comes to power with a resounding majority. The transfer of government is smooth. And life is back to normal.

The other is in France. Three main contestants, a second round of elections, and one winner. The next day, France erupts in riots.

Do we Indians ever really appreciate the power and depth, and trueness of our democracy?

2 comments:

Harsha Kumar said...

Yeh Jo Des Hai Mera.. Swades Hai Mera..
GO INDIA!! :)

Siddhesh said...

Also, interestingly and happily, this was one election where caste politics gave way to the politics of development and progress, where crime and muscle power took a beating, and where India seems to have finally woken up to take it's rightful place on the world's stage as an educated and mature democracy.