Today is grand finale of election campaigning in the State – the Kalashakottu. Perhaps there is no event in the State which causes more difficulties to travellers during election time than the Kalashakottu. I want to ask a question to political parties and their candidates. How many more votes are you expecting by holding such an event?
I am forced to remember the kalashakottu held during last local body elections. While travelling in a car from Thiruvalla to Pathanamthitta, I was caught in the long queue of vehicles. The reason was that kalashakottu in the adjoining town had started. I took a detour, following some drivers who knew alternative routes. However, after reaching the main road what I found was another traffic jam as the Kalashakottu had started in another town.
I was forced to take another byroad and after traversing through four or five byroads I finally reached Pathanamthitta where the grand finale was taking place in middle of the town. More traffic block followed. I am sure those who were forced to undertake wretched journey that day would have cursed all political parties. Those caught in the traffic jam that day while travelling in buses would also have cursed them.
Politicians do you have any genuine reason to defend this wild celebrations in the name of elections. During last elections, I saw a candidate and his aides being taken in procession on an earth mover during Kalashakottu. This happens when celebrations are taken over by irresponsible party workers. The candidates fear for their lives when they are lifted by enthusiastic workers and they don’t spare even if the candidate happens to be an old woman.
When there was an attempt to copy film styled celebrations `Devils revelry’ in a college campus, it was aptly banned by authorities and it is commendable. But political parties do you have the right to celebrate such madness, which is banned in college campus, on the roads. Political parties better remember that you are followed blindly by students and many others. It is good to be humble like the earth but one shouldn’t stoop down to level of being carried on an earth mover.
During last Kalashakottu in Pathanamthitta some 'patriots' had removed the spectacles from Gandhi’s statue. Celebrations by party workers by brandishing sticks are dangerous and they do this circus while standing under electricity lines. The noise during celebrations is deafening and in this din even the siren of siren of ambulance taking a patient to hospital will be downed. However, even if they hear the siren chances of them making way for the ambulance in this chaos is remote.
The political parties invade a particular place and start their celebrations. It seems the difference is only in the posters they brandish and when it comes to troubling the common man, the parties cut across their political beliefs and become one.
It is the duty of local bodies to remove the leftovers of the celebrations next day. The vehicles and pedestrians bear the brunt in places where these are not removed. In truth politicians are turning people into apolitical enemies of ideologies and parties.
Politicians, if you believe that people vote after seeing this show of strength then there cannot be bigger fools like you all. If votes are your target then don’t block the way of common man. If you want to hold grand march, it can be done in some rented maidan. Those who are interested will come and watch it there.
Political parties often unfurl a long list of things that you promise to do if you win elections. However, you will be doing a great social service if you can implement your wish list before elections.
(The author is a retired college lecturer, social worker and Pathanamthitta district coordinator of Child Rights Observatory. The views expressed are personal).
It's time to end political parties' madness on the street called 'Kalashakottu'
Saturday 14 May 2016 12:03 PM IST
