ELECTION
(Short Story).
Author’s Name:? Ashok Kumar (7th April 2024).
[This short story is a work of fiction.? All characters, names, business organizations, places, events, incidents, and situations in this Story are fictitious and products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely and entirely coincidental].
[One US Dollar is equal to 80 Indian Rupees].
Copyrights reserved:? Ashok Kumar.
Arun finished his early dinner and was lying down on his not-so-cozy wooden bed.? Someone rang the doorbell.? When he answered the door, he was surprised to see Peter standing outside the door.?
???? Arun never expected him at this time.?
???? Peter was with him in the house until 5 pm and left the house saying that he was proceeding to his native village which was 10 kilometers away.? He was to meet Arun only on the following evening.
???? Peter’s face was grim and pale; his eyes were short of light; there were signs of tears falling from his eyes.
???? “What happened?? Why at this time?? I thought you were going to see your Mom and Dad”.? Arun fired an array of questions.
??? Words failed to come out of Peter’s mouth.? He was in a shock; in a great shock.? Something serious must have happened.? Something very serious!
???? After some seconds, Peter managed to spell a few words about the fateful incident.
??? Arun was shocked; seriously shocked.? He could not believe his ears.
??? “What?? What are you saying?? Our brother was stabbed?”? Arun’s whole body was seriously trembling.
???? “Yes, now, just now”.? Peter answered in broken words.
???? Peter could not speak any further.? He started crying profusely.
??? Both immediately proceeded to the Town’s State Government Hospital.
???? Arun’s brother Varun was brutally attacked.? The doctor in charge said that Varun had 22 stab wounds.? His whole body was completely bandaged.? Arun was seriously shocked after seeing his sibling’s condition.
??? “We cannot say anything now.? We can predict only after 24 hours.? He is under careful observation now.? A large amount of blood has gone away from his body.? His liver and heart have been severely damaged.”? The Chief Surgeon in charge said.
???? “Can we take him to the District Hospital?”? Arun asked the Chief Surgeon.
???? “No. Not now.? His body is not in that condition.? Anyway, we have informed the District Hospital.? A Senior Surgeon and a Physician are likely to visit here tomorrow morning.”
???? “Why not tonight”?? Arun asked in a concerned voice.
???? “Not possible.? Doctors at the District Hospital are on a ‘Slow Strike’.? They will not attend to any cases, even very serious cases, after 4 pm”.
???? Eventually, the highly qualified doctors at the Town Hospital could not save Varun’s life.
???? For the Police, the investigation into this murder was much easier than they initially thought.?
???? The murderer surrendered at the local police station a few hours after the murder, though he did not have the murder weapon and he could not remember where he left the sharp sickle that was used for the murder.?
???? This became a headache for the police since the trial court would insist on the production of the murder weapon.
???? The murderer’s statement was recorded at the police station.? The murderer stated that there was a long-term enmity between him and Varun; that this murder was planned by him and only by him; and that no one encouraged him or forced him to commit this murder.
???? The police decided that this case was a pre-meditated murder and booked the murderer under various Sections of the Penal Code.
???? Varun’s brutal death seriously affected Arun.
???? Arun was standing for the forthcoming State’s General Election as an Independent Candidate for his Constituency.? He was not a new face for the people of his Constituency.? The people there knew him well.? He had much regard, love, and respect from those people.
???? After completing his college education in that Town, he started searching for a suitable job.? He tried hard for three precious years but could not find any employment.? It was then that he heard about an NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) that was operating from Bombay (India).? He wrote to them about his intention to work for them.? He received a favorable reply from them in a month and he proceeded to Bombay for an Interview.? The NGO found him suitable and he was selected.
???? During Arun’s college days, he developed an inclination towards social service.? The NGO in Bombay did remarkable service towards village development, healthcare, education, etc.? Arun was appointed by the NGO to develop the villages in and around his native Town.? He underwent initial training for three months in Bombay.? After returning to his Town, he drew up an elaborate plan for a ‘Village Reconstruction Programme’.? He submitted his plans to his NGO’s head office in Bombay.? They approved his plans and allocated reasonable funds for his plans.
???? He was engaged in these development activities for the past three years and it was at that time that the State General Election was announced.
???? Arun’s close friends, several elders in the Town, and several people who were living in the adjoining villages urged him to stand for the Election as an Independent Candidate.
???? That Constituency was quite famous in the State.? The former Chief Minister of the State ‘Iron Arumugam’ was standing for the Election as a ‘Justice Party’ Candidate.? He was called ‘Iron Arumugam’ because he was the ‘Iron Man’ of the State.? During his Chief Ministerial tenure, he brutally subdued several of his opponents.? He had been continuously contesting from that Constituency for the past 25 years and always won the elections with absolute majority.? During the last election, he won with a difference of more than 100,000 votes and his second opponent lost her Election Deposit.? He and his party politicians were well known for ‘all-level’ corruption.? However, they always won because the State had no strong opposition and his party was able to stoop to any level to win the Elections.? They had money and they had muscle power.? They made use of the innocent minds of the people.? The people said, “They rob; but they also help us; they give us a lot of money and gifts before the Election”.
???? Arun initially refused to contest the Election.? However, his friends and well-wishers urged him relentlessly.? They explained to him that if he won, then he could serve the people in a better way.? He thought about it for several days and finally decided not to contest the Election on behalf of any Party but to contest as an Independent Candidate.? His decision had a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the local people.
??? “Even after 70 years since independence, our villages are still in the infant stage as far as development is concerned.? Those representatives whom we are electing for the State Legislature and the Parliament are only concerned about their welfare and never bother about the wellbeing of the people who elected them.? Our country needs many people like you.? People like you can submit many fine progressive plans in the State Legislature and the two Houses of Parliament and do constructive work for the people.? You should participate in this Election without the slightest hesitation.? We all will wholeheartedly work for your success.”? Arun’s friend Peter sincerely encouraged him.
???? After completing his slain brother’s post-funeral ceremonies, Arun started engaging himself fully in the Election works.
???? However, Arun’s brother’s brutal demise had largely affected Arun.? For many days, he was not in the proper frame of mind.? He was wondering why his brother was murdered.? He could not find any answer.? They never had any enemies.? His brother was running a small grocery shop in the Town and he was well known for his politeness and straightforwardness.? Then, why he was brutally murdered?? The murderer who surrendered at the police station was not known to them.? From investigations, they found out that the murderer was from a faraway village.? Was he affiliated with any political party; they did not know.
???? There was another person by the name of Balan who was also contesting as an Independent Candidate from the same constituency.? He condemned Iron Arumugam very atrociously in all his election meetings.? Many people attended his election meetings.? Arun never spoke anything against Balan.? However, when it was known that Arun would be participating in the Election as an Independent Candidate, Balan’s political agents approached Arun with one million Indian Rupees (US Dollars 12,500) and forced Arun to withdraw his Candidature.? However, Arun flatly refused to accede to their demands.? On the following day, Balan met Arun in person and spoke to him in a demanding tone.? He also explained the repercussions if Arun refused.? Finally, Balan lost his battle of forcing Arun’s withdrawal of candidature.?
???? A week before this incident, political agents of Iron Arumugam approached Arun with two million Indian Rupees (US Dollars 25,000) and urged him to withdraw his candidature.? Arun explained to the bribe-givers that he was not such a mean person to indulge in such immoral and illegal activities.
???? Arun suspected that these people could be responsible for his brother’s murder.? He was furious but he was also totally helpless.
???? When Election Day was nearing, more and more meetings were organized by various political parties.? ‘Election Heat’ was increasing day by day.?
???? Iron Arumugam’s supporters displayed huge posters and cut-outs of him at various places in the Constituency.? His Party Office in the Town became a ‘Center of Attraction’.? Several people who greatly benefitted through him and several businessmen who had a close association with him provided him with all the necessary funds and other logistical supports like vehicles, fuel, gifts for the people who would be casting their valuable votes, etc.? All and sundry knew that if his Party won the Election, he would become the Chief Minister.
???? Iron Arumugam had dual duties.? He had to closely concentrate on his Constituency.? At the same time, as the Chief Ministerial Candidate of his Party, he had to attend several political meetings throughout the State.? He had to be robust and active.
???? Iron Arumugam had a strong belief that the people in his Constituency would not let him down.? He threw a lot of money to his voters in his Constituency.? His political agents assured the people that his Party would win this Election that he would certainly become the Chief Minister and that he had Great Plans for the development of the Constituency.?? They even gave the assurance that the Town would be made a ‘Little London City’.? The Town was also assured of a big airport and that many youths in the Constituency would be recruited as Airline Pilots.? The innocent young minds who heard the ‘Pilot Story’ started dreaming that they were already flying in the Air.
???? The Town did not have a Television Station.? They were assured of one as soon as Iron Arumugam’s Party came into Power.? They said there would be at least three major industries that would be built near the Town and at least 50,000 people were assured of suitable jobs.? It was also promised that the whole Constituency would be announced as an ‘International Tourist Destination’ and as a result, several thousand foreign tourists would be actively flocking to the Constituency.? They also announced their plan to clean up the large ‘Dirty Water Pond’ in the middle of the Town and turn it into a ‘Pure Water Pond’ where modern boating facilities will be provided for foreign tourists.? Apart from these announcements, they also spoke about the old rhetorical assurances like good education, free health care, pure drinking water, easy-to-do business, distribution of free rice and other cooking commodities, and many more.
???? Balan too did not lag in his assurances.? He too said many things.
???? “Arun and Balan are contesting as Independent Candidates.? They will never win.? Even if they win, what will they do for you?? They will have no power; they will have no money.? They will have no one to support them either in this State or in the Central Government.? They were yesterday’s ‘mushrooms.? Tomorrow they will get destroyed.? Do you believe them?? Are you going to waste your Golden Votes by casting them for these ‘Sundry Saturn’?”? Iron Arumugam and his Political Agents questioned the people of the Constituency.
??? Arun progressively conducted his Election Campaign.? He firmly requested his agents and followers not to display any posters or cut-outs anywhere in the Constituency.
???? “It is immaterial to which Political Party a Candidate belongs to.? What is important is the personal strength and moral qualities of the Candidate.? Can you meet him/her easily?? Will he/she take constructive action to solve your problems within a reasonable period?? You must analyze these things and cast your votes for such a person who can act constructively and decisively.? Promises made by Political Candidates are not important.? What is important is how many of those promises can be and will be fulfilled.? The person who promises should be a person who will have social awareness, social concern, and farsightedness.”? Arun told this to every voter he met.
???? Arun did not arrange for Election Meetings. He did not distribute leaflets and pamphlets either.? Even vehicles for campaigning were not required for him.? He and his friends went to each village and met the people and spoke to them.? They did not have to find out about their problems and requirements.? He had been working for those villagers for the last three years or more.? He knew how many people were without any basic education; he knew how many villages were without drinking water facilities; he was aware of the number of villages without electricity; without proper road connections; without government bus facilities; without even basic healthcare facilities.? During his fieldwork in those villages since last so many years he collected enough statistics.
???? Therefore, one of the basic differences between Arun and the other Candidates in the Constituency was that when the others met the voters, they asked them, “What are your problems?” and then told them that they would solve their problems if the people voted for them; whereas, when Arun met the people, he knew about their problems, so he spoke to them about those problems and necessities and assured them that he would try his best to fulfill their requirements if he was elected.? His genuine ways of doing things certainly attracted the voters in that Constituency.
???? For Arun, winning or losing the Election was not important.? If he won the Election, he would be able to serve the people in a better way.? If he lost the Election, he would continue to engage himself in the Social Service that he was presently doing.
???? Arun knew that until people became ‘Knowledge Voters’ and could elect the ‘Right Candidates’, winning or losing the Elections should not be considered a serious matter.? He was well prepared to face any consequences.
???? During the last three years or more, he had been actively participating in creating a ‘Model Constituency’.? Initially, with the financial help of the NGO for which he was working, he started gathering various statistics about that Constituency.? From the information he gathered, he found that there were 52 villages and 5 small towns that came under this Constituency.? The total number of voters was around 120,000.? The total population of the Constituency was around 200,000 including children and infants.? When he joined the NGO and started serving here, as a first step, he created a big volunteer group consisting of young people, college and high school students, and elders who were interested in social service.? For every village, he appointed 5 volunteers; for the 5 small towns, 20 volunteers each were selected.? The big Town where he lived had 50 volunteers.? Each volunteer oversaw approximately 100 families.? Every volunteer met each family once a week, talked to the family members, and learned about their problems.? When anyone had to sort out any issue with a local government official, a volunteer accompanied the person in distress.? They also spoke to the people about their basic legal rights, basic hygiene, basic education, and many more things that influenced or affected them in their day-to-day lives.? In this way, the volunteers also collected a large amount of useful data about the people and their problems.? The local government officials were not very happy about these volunteers.? The officials so far earned a lot of money by way of bribes for every service they provided to the people.? Now the officials’ illegal income was seriously affected.
???? People in the Constituency benefitted tremendously due to Arun’s social work.? Many elders who did not have any basic education came forward to study in the evening classes.? People started building and maintaining roads on their own without depending on the State Government.? Arun and his volunteers helped farmers get agricultural and animal husbandry loans from commercial banks and cooperative banks.? With the help of these loans, people were able to establish small-scale poultry farms and cattle farms in their villages.
???? A very serious habit that affected the people in the villages was liquor consumption.? Every village had more than one liquor shop.? They were all illicit liquor shops and there was nothing that the police could do to eradicate them.? Many families were ruined due to the liquor-drinking habits of the male members.? Arun and his volunteers spoke to the drunkards frequently and their attempts proved successful.? In the past three years, at least 50 percent of liquor addicts stopped drinking completely.
???? “We are responsible for today’s corruption in the country.? There is no point in blaming the politicians alone.?? We are encouraging the politicians to become corrupt.? When they come to us and request us to vote for them, they act like genuine people.? They assure us that they will solve all our problems.? Once they win the Election, they forget us.? They remember us only when the next Election will be due.? Therefore, it is you who should decide as to whom you should vote and to whom you should not.? You should not become blind when bribe money and gifts are offered just before the Election.”? Arun had been telling this to the people for the last three years or so, whenever he had the opportunity to address small groups of people or seminars or workshops.
???? “Those who represent us in the State Legislature and the Parliament should have at least basic education.? More than that, they should possess a mind that cares for the people and the society.? They should be people interested in social service.? Discipline, straightforwardness, knowledge of the past, and a great vision for the future should be the virtues an Election Candidate should have.? Most of the problems in our country today are due to inappropriate people getting elected to the State Assembly and the Parliament.? Unless our voters develop the abilities to elect suitable Candidates, we will only continue to face disappointments.”? Arun told the voters whom he frequently met during his numerous Election Briefings.
???? “Policies are born from individuals.? However, for the progress of society, that individual is not important.? What is important are his/her progressive policies.? The basic fault in our country and our society is our enthusiasm and keenness to worship individuals.? Due to this attitude, we fail to see the advantages and disadvantages of an individual’s policies.? This is one of the reasons for our country’s backwardness in the field of ‘Constructive Politics’.”? Thus, he explained to his voters.
???? During all his interactions with the people he briefly spoke to them about his plans for the Constituency.? He emphasized on Education.
???? “We do not have enough schools in our villages.? If I win this Election, one of my priorities will be to see to it that every village gets a Primary School, teaching students up to Grade Five.? One out of every Five Villages will have one Secondary School and one High School for Girls and another Secondary School and a High School for Boys.? Our Town here will get a College for Girls and another College for Boys.? Our District Town should get at least two Universities, one for the Girls and one for the Boys.? Each of these Universities should be able to accommodate at least 30,000 students.? Both the Universities should have all the important Departments.? Our undergraduates from our constituency need not have to go to other cities and towns to study for their Masters and Doctorates.”? Arun was confident that he would be able to fulfill his promises within five years.?
???? Election Day was nearing.? Often there were petty clashes in the streets, mainly in the small towns.? Villagers were more accommodating to differences of opinion among various political parties.? However, townspeople considered themselves to be better educated and thus became more argumentative.?? The police force became alert and active and controlled the situation whenever any clashes broke out.
???? Iron Arumugam was very vocal that he would win and his party would form the next government.? Since this Constituency was the Constituency of the Chief Ministerial Candidate, special police deployment was facilitated.
???? Election Day in the State came and went.? There were serious clashes in many parts of the State.? Though the State police made elaborate security arrangements, they could not practically prevent large-scale vandalism.
???? The Election results started coming in.? Various Television Channels and the Radio started announcing the results, one by one.
???? The greatest shock came.
??? Iron Arugam lost the Election.? He even lost his Election Deposits.? Arun won the Election by more than 110,000 votes while the total number of votes cast in the Constituency was 119,000.? Iron Arumugam got only 1276 votes.?
???? The more shocking news was that his Party won, that too only very marginally, only in 11 Constituencies out of a total of 276 Constituencies in the State.
???? The results were shocking.? However, most of the people of the State were happy.? They were happy because a highly corrupt party that ruled the State for many years was voted out.
???? Many Independent Candidates won their seats.? Their support became very important for the formation of the new State Government.
???? Arun did not expect these results.? However, this victory was the result of the new awareness of the people of his Constituency.
??? ?Iron Arumugam was the ‘Steel Frame’ of his Party.? His historical defeat and the almost total defeat of his Party were a victory against corruption, hooliganism, nepotism, dictatorship, etc.
???? Arun was confident about serving the people of his Constituency, efficiently and effectively, as an Independent Candidate.
???? During the next few days after the announcement of the results, Arun went to every village and town in his Constituency and met the people and thanked them.
???? A week after the announcements of the Election results, important news was published on almost all the newspapers in their Front Pages, which read as follows:
???? “Police investigation into the murder of Varun, the brother of Arun, reveals that the murderer who surrendered to the Police was a member of former Chief Minister, Iron Arumugam’s Party.? The murderer has now admitted to the Police that he murdered Varun at the insistence of Iron Arugam.??The main reason for the murder of Varun was that, once he was murdered, Arun would not actively participate in the Election or even he might withdraw from his candidature and that would pave the easy way for Iron Arumugam to win the Election without any strong opposition.? The Police have confiscated many valuable documents about the murder from the murderer and from Iron Arumugam’s office.? Iron Arumugam’s secretary and three others who were actively associated with the murder have been already arrested.? Iron Arumugam has been absconding since the announcements of the Election results.? He is expected to be arrested soon.”
THE END
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