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Monday, March 31, 2014

Political Intelligence + Stubbornness = Handicap for Change

There is one notion amongst majority of Indians that Kerala is a land of Communists.  And listened to statements as wild as this '..because you guys are all communists, people in your state are very intelligent'. I have had worse moments in my life than explaining this person out of his prejudice. This wrong notion that 'we are somehow politically intelligent' has crept into our minds as well. For no reason we believe that Kerala is the most 'politically aware' state. And there are ample statistics to match our baritone. Like for example we are a state with High Human Development Index (HDI), High Education, Least in female feticide etc. I could go on and with the help of some amount of googling I could make a daring presentation about my state. Wow, I am blessed to be born in this state. Aren't I??

So coming back to political awareness. I still remember the day when voters of Delhi surprised whole India to back AAP with 27 seats. And that day as if awoke from a deep slumber many of us were enthused by Kejriwal's daring new brand of politics. What it also did was that many who complained about the right and left front politics in Kerala could dream of a new wave in politics. And to AAP's credit they are able to field some excellent candidates in this Lok Sabha elections. Candidates like Ajith Joy, Anitha Prathap, Silvi Sunil and Sara Joseph are eye catching and deserving to say the least. These are candidates who have achieved a professional success or are willing to walk the talk for the matters affecting our country.                                                                                                                    But off-
-late as the elections are nearing and as we close down to the April 10 mark. Its as if the left and right front have undergone a holy dip in Ganges . They are still framed as the front runner and expected to share the 20 seats almost equally. So what happened to the multitude of issues blared out all season? Newspapers and News Channels were making the living hell out of these politicians and now all of a sudden they are backing them to win again? Having said that, it is no point in blaming them politicians or media. It comes down to us voters. Doesn't it?




We might be most politically aware state but at the same time we are definitely the most 'politically stubborn' bunch of people. We intelligently find excuses to vote for the party we have been voting all along. Obama's famous election campaign line was 'Vote for Change'. And had he been contesting from Kerala , he would never win even if he tries a million times. Because we are politically
handicapped when it comes to Change. Take the example of O.Rajagopal. Here is a guy who has done a tremendous job in his short stint as a Railway Minister. And everyone acknowledges his work for our state equivocally. But as they say its hard to convert praise to votes and time and time again he ends up on the losing side. Some say its because of the general disdain towards BJP that has been costing him a much deserved seat. But I would argue it comes down to our political stubbornness. And then there is a veil of hypocritical secularism to vote for Muslim league but not for BJP. So in every way it proves my earlier statement that we find an excuse to vote for the same old parties. There are no swing votes as such in Kerala. Its either vote for the major two front's or not vote at all.

In my opinion Aam Aadmi party is like a litmus test for Kerala politics. For all these years we cried, complained and mocked the ineptitude of Right and Left front politics. And with some great candidates in AAP this should be the opinion to seize upon and send the right signals to age old political foundations in Kerala. And lest we miss this chance we must not crib and holler but swallow it like a bitter pill. Because in the end its our own votes that brought our state to this state.


Friday, March 28, 2014

Virtual Kerala LokSabha Election 2014

കേരളത്തിന്‌ അകത്തും പുറത്തും ആകേ ഒരു തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് ചൂട് അനുഭവിച്ചു തുടങ്ങി .
മാധ്യമങ്ങളും , ചാനലുകളും തൊട്ടും തൊടാതെയും പ്രവചനങ്ങൾ നെയ്തു തുടങ്ങി . മറ്റു തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പിൽ നിന്നും വ്യത്യസ്തമായി ഒരു പുതിയ പാർട്ടി കൂടേ ഈ കൊല്ലം മത്സരിക്കുന്നുണ്ട് . ഇടതും , വലതും , താമരയും, ലീഗും അല്ലാതെ വേറെ ഓപ്ഷൻ ഇല്ല എന്നും പറഞ്ഞു നടന്നവർക്ക് AAP ഒരു അവസരം ഒരുക്കുന്നു . എന്നാൽ AAP തരംഗം , മോഡി തരംഗം എല്ലാം പത്രങ്ങളിൽ മാത്രം ആണെന്ന് ചില മുതിർന്ന നേതാക്കൾ അവകാശപെടുന്നു . എന്ത് ആവും എന്ന് കണ്ടറിയാം .

ജാടതെണ്ടിയും നിങ്ങളെ പോലെ 'anxious' ആണ് . അത് കൊണ്ട് ഒരു 'virtual election' സംഗടിപ്പിക്കാൻ തീരുമാനിച്ചു . നിങ്ങളുടെ വോട്ടുകൾ താഴേ കാണുന്ന പോള്ളിൽ രേഖപെടുത്തുക . ഇത് ഒരു വാശി ആയി ഏറ്റെടുത്തു 'script' റണ്‍ ചെയ്തു കള്ള വോട്ട് ചെയ്യരുത് എന്ന് ഒരു അപേക്ഷാ ഉണ്ട്. അഥവാ കള്ളവോട്ടു ചെയ്താലും എനിക്ക് പുല്ലാണ് .

കേരളത്തിലെ എല്ലാ ലോകസഭ മണ്ടലങ്ങളും താഴേ കൊടുത്തിട്ടുണ്ട്‌ . നിങ്ങളുടെ വോട്ടുകൾ ഇവിടെ രേഖപെടുത്തുക .  ഇവിടെ പ്രധാന മുന്നണിയിലെ സ്ഥാനാർഥികൾ മാത്രമേ കാണിക്കുന്നുള്ളൂ എന്ന് പ്രത്യേകം .



Kasaragod




  


Kannur
  

Vadakara

  
Wayanad

  

Kozhikode

  

Malappuram

  

Ponnani

  

Palakkad

  

Alathur

  

Thrissur

  

Chalakudy

  

Ernakulam

  

Idukki

  

Kottayam

  

Alappuzha

  

Mavelikkara (SC)

  

Pathanamthitta

  

Kollam

  

Attingal

  

Thiruvananthapuram

  



Thursday, March 6, 2014

John Brittas interview on Gail Tredwell

Offlate media interviews are more hyped on the sensationalism than on the actual content. The advertisement and highlight reel of such interviews are made more interesting and responsive with apt background music and sub titles. So having such prejudice in mind I expected the interview by John Brittas with Gail Tredwell to be a dud. Add to that Mr.Brittas can be a a bit egoistic and arrogant in his demeanor that makes him a wrong candidate as a host. But glad that all my prejudices have been been proven wrong in this below interview. Mr.Brittas played the perfect interviewer with utmost intention in understanding Ms.Gail Tredwell from a common man's perspective. And he didn't try to play neither a combative 'Karan Thapar' nor a pleasing 'Vir Sanghvi'. He allowed Gail Tredwell to speak and never tried to corner her with ridiculous dramatic statements. Although the name of the interview 'Ammaykku Ethire Makal' is as  dramatic as it can get but given the truth behind the whole story I guess we can ignore that silly speck in the name. As the interview proceeded Ms.Tredwell opened up and validated her thoughts and answered the doubts Mr.Brittas had in his mind. John Brittas in the beginning and in between the interview took his share of 'anticipatory bail' by making it very clear that he is just another reporter trying to get down to the issue in his own manner. Which I think is essential given the polar nature of our public. Its in a way a painful to listen to Ms.Tredwell and see her struggle to come in terms with herself. But overall I believe she answers all the questions that we all had in our mind.






Even after all this I am damn sure, the 'brain washed' minds and the 'spiritual seekers' minds will never get affected with a book or an interview or a spectacular revelation. For them its all farce and thats the saddening truth. I hope people understand the truth first and then take a stand. But given how timid the government and other leaders have reacted so far on this issue I see it going down the drain (like any other) until one another bigger issue arises.