The Election Call: Party Workers Should Stay Sensible Instead Of Blindly Participating In Crazy Stunts

Tamil Nadu is on the brink of another assembly election this year, which is going to take place on May 16. With not even a month left for the poll, the campaigning of the two major parties are going at a heavy pace.

Chennai being the bastion AIADMK leader and the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, rigorous campaigns are going out on streets, without paying heed to scorching heat. On Friday morning, a man was seen in the middle of a Chennai’s Royepettah road, standing with his head shaven to the shape of AIADMK’s symbol (two leaves) and shouting loud taking a bow, “Vote for ADMK please!”.

Such a sight throws a big question to us, is it at all something humane or something very necessary from the part of political parties to make people stand in such sweltering conditions among a hectic traffic, just for the campaigns? It might be that the person himself has volunteered to do so in exchange of a small sum, but isn’t it like selling one’s self-esteem for a party? Political workers work hard for the parties, but to what extent do the political parties go and use them?

Four states in India are having their assembly elections this year and most of these are being conducted amidst scorching summer heat. Campaigns are going relentlessly day and night. Earlier on April 21, two AIADMK workers died in Salem due to heatstroke while they were out for rally. Jayalalithaa has always received flak for holding rallies in the afternoon in the 40-plus heat. Despite all this, why do we see people blindly following party orders without even thinking about themselves and their family members?

This also puts light on the issue of how political leaders have gained the status of heroes in our country. And instead of support, they are to some extent worshipped. We have to understand that politicians should work according to the people, not the vice versa. We have the power to change the authorities in position, which means we may a favour a party for the work they have done by voting them, but it should not get the stature of a pantheon. Let us not get carried away by political parties and their agendas, we should apply our common sense and vote for people who can bring about positive changes in the society. The blind hero-worshipping should be stopped.