Now with election in air everyone in India is eager to get a ticket. From big to small, from the rich to poor, from prince to pauper, every one wants to get a ticket. The mercurial politician from the Indian state of Bihar once said - "KIS KISKO MEIN TICKET DOON. HUMARE GAON MEIN JO MITTI KA TEL BECHTA HAI, WOH BHI TICKET MANGTA HAI" (To whom shall I distribute the tickets. The guy who sells Kerosene oil in my village is asking me for tickets". He had a point.
What's a ticket in political parlance ? For the uninitiated, it is not a ticket for a Football match or a game of Cricket or an Airline or a movie ticket. In India it is the approval by a political party to run on its behalf for a MLA (at state level) or MP (at central level), officiallly authorized to use the party's name and symbol. For example - you get a ticket from the Congress party to run on its symbol of palm (some call it the hand symbol) or a ticket from BJP to run on its symbol "Kamal" (Lotus). A la James Bond 007 who has a license to kill, for most getting a ticket is a license to loot, without any accountability which comes with the privilege of tons of adulation from the gullible public who often don't have much of a choice and is taken for a ride.
In many instances it won't be an exaggeration to call it a ticket to success. And there are tickets much cherished after. Getting a ticket from BJP almost guarantees one a victory in states like Gujarat or a ticket from the BJD in Odisha which provides you sure shot chance of winning. It is not unusual for people paying bribes to get such coveted tickets considered as passport to guarantee money for seven generations as ROI (Return on Investment).
No political party, probably with the exception of the Communist Party to certain extent is immune to this craze. It probably explains why come election, starting from Bureaucrats to Businessmen, celebrity singers to movie stars, everyone makes a beeline for party tickets across India - from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, from Bengal to Baroda. One occasionally buys season tickets in sports, but politically it is ticket season in India.
Discussions veer around over multiple cups of tea at "Khatti" or "Nukkad" (casual public gatherings in India) on "KIE Ticket PAIBA" (who will get a ticket), "KAHARA Ticket KATILA" (who won't get a ticket) with rumors flying by like insects after sunset just before Diwali. Nowadays many such discussions have shifted to social media platforms. In most cases, these commoners have no clue about these tickets, including the candidates themselves. The decision makers at the helm of the affairs of the party, often regarded as the High Command, keep their cards close to their chest only to disclose at the 11th hour. Astrologers and soothsayers have a field day.
When D-day arrives, it is celebration time for some, frustration for others. It ain't uncommon for folks to change sides or contest as an independent candidate to prove their mettle in case the aspirant fails to get a ticket. It is going to be fun time in India as the rat race for tickets and discussions in gatherings gets hotter with the advent of the hot weather as the elections are held right in the middle of torrid Indian summer. Wish I could get a ticket this summer. Last time I got a ticket was 16 years ago in the summer of 2008 due to a traffic violation for jumping a red light.
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