election campaign of a leader

Netaji's procession of promises

It was election season in the village, and Netaji Pandey ji was in the fray once again. Last time when he won the election, he had vowed to change the fate of the village. But forget about the fate, even the broken roads of the village did not change. The electricity poles were still hanging, and the water tank had become a permanent residence for pigeons.

But look at Netaji's confidence! This time again he had come out with a procession of election promises, and he intended to ensnare the public with his magical speeches once again.

Grand entry and election ruckus Netaji had now reached the village for election campaign.

A big stage was set up at the village's Chaupal. An announcement was made on the loudspeaker—

"Listen, listen! The great leader, the destiny maker of the village, the messiah of the poor, Pandey ji is coming! Welcome him with loud applause!"

People started gathering, some came out of compulsion, some came to see the show and some to take a dig at old promises. Netaji came on the stage wearing white kurta-pyjama, black glasses on his eyes. Behind him was a whole army of his sycophants, who were smiling looking at the people, as if saying - "Oh, this time I will definitely win!"

As soon as he took the mike, Netaji's voice echoed -

"Brothers and sisters, this election is not just an election, it is a revolution! If I win, I will turn the village into a city!"

The elderly Ramkhilavan uncle standing behind said, "Son, I said the same thing in the last election too, since then not only the city, but even a bullock cart has not been able to reach our fields!"

People laughed, but Netaji ignored them and continued with his speech -

"We will get a great hospital built in the village!"

Just then a woman shouted, "First get the broken roof of the hospital repaired last time, even doctors sit with umbrellas in the rain!"

By now the public had started enjoying the election entertainment completely. Netaji made the next promise.

"Water will come to every house through pipeline!"

A voice came from behind, "The hand pump that was dug last time is still giving out dust instead of water!"

"We will make the roads of the village shine!"

Someone said, "The road of last time was washed away in the first rain, now children ride boats on it!"

Netaji was now sweating a little, but he did not stop.

"We will get every youth of the village a government job!"

The unemployed Ramesh of the village said, "I had said the same thing last year too, since then my experience of unemployment is increasing!"

Just then the village master stood up and said—

"Netaji, in the last election you had said that you will start a train in the village, what happened to that?"

Netaji smiled and said—

"The train did not come, but two new bicycles definitely came to the village!"

People were rolling with laughter. Netaji's sycophants were signaling him that "Stop now, otherwise there is a danger of losing votes!"

But now the public was in full swing. Someone quipped -

"Netaji, last time you said that you will give free electricity to everyone, but in our house lanterns are still burning!"

Netaji spoke seriously -

"Brothers and sisters, lanterns are burning means there is arrangement for light! We wanted that no one should live in darkness!"

People started laughing loudly.

At this the village confectioner Mangalu Kaka shouted -

"Last time you said that as soon as you win the election you will organize a big feast in the village, but till now only people from your party have been seen enjoying the feast for free!"

Now even Netaji's sycophants could not stop laughing. Netaji was a little embarrassed, but he immediately composed himself—

"Hey Kaka, we would have organised a feast for the whole village, but the budget for lighting the stove was supposed to come from the central government, but it did not come!"

The public started laughing.

By now Netaji had understood that it is dangerous to get entangled in too many questions from the public. He quickly tried to wrap up his speech—

"So brothers and sisters, we need your support! This time vote for us and make us win, so that we can complete the unfinished work!"

Just then a child spoke from behind—

"Netaji, first show the completed work, then ask for votes!"

The whole village started clapping. Netaji slowly started getting down from the stage. While leaving, the sycophants tried to gather the crowd, but the public was now returning to their homes, laughing and joking.

This time Netaji's election procession could not go very far. The public cannot be fooled now.