Sir,
The political churning happening in Odisha today reminds us of the clichéd phrase, “Old wine in new bottle.” The same corrupt people re-enter the political arena with a change of uniform. In fact, the opportunists are looking for the safest way to be re-elected. One question remains: Will the people of Odisha elect those who have let them down again and againIJ Will they look for new candidates with no track record of sleaze or will money be the final arbiterIJ Money power is seen as a prime factor in every election. Very often the rural voter is blamed for the poor choice of elected representatives but that is not always the case. Even in the city, there are candidates that win by sheer dint of muscle and money.
And, the arguments from the electors are often bizarre. They elect an MlA who will serve their personal interests; the collective and social interests be damned. In such a situation, the desire for change is a futile pursuit. The same set of representatives, with minor changes, will bounce back to occupy seats of power in the Government. The people of Odisha are not yet ready to shake up the system. Whether the next Government will be a better one is no guarantee.
K Ravi, E-237, GGP Colony, Bhubaneswar-751025,M-9437616497