SOCIAL MALAISE
   Date :22-Jan-2022

SOCIAL MALAISE
 
 
THE election season in India brings with it some episodes that find place in the media on a regular basis. Defections, promises, claims and counter-claims dominate the social discourse in every pocket of the country. Apart from these things, one factor that just cannot be separated from elections and campaigning is the use of liquor and cash to woo voters. The news coming from the States going to elections in the next few days is full of police action to seize illegal liquor, cash and even drugs worth crores of rupees.
 
It is a big malaise that has refused to go from India’s electoral politics. Contesting candidates, irrespective of their political outfits, are still resorting to the dirty tactics of influencing voters by providing free liquor, drugs and money. It is a sad commentary on the thinking in the country where loyalty of a major proportion can be easily purchased through illegal means. Even after so many decades, political parties use this dirty resort to purchase votes. The consequences are then seen in the choice of candidates who are elected on the strength of money power and corrupt practices. While law tries to check such activities, the onus is on the society itself to safeguard itself from corruption.