I believe that change is the only constant thing in life. It may sound strange as a statement but it is true. And, like most things these days which seem to be in a constant process of transformation, our elections too certainly seem to be changing or rather evolving with the times.

The most noticeable thing about the present election is the deafening silence. Since I have not had an occasion to travel over the past two weeks, I do not know if it is only in Mysore that the entire election campaign has become silent due to the unusually strict enforcement of the rules by our DC or if it is like this every where else too.

Peace and tranquility:
The most obvious thing about any election big or small used to be the ugly posters, banners, cut - outs, buntings and above all the blaring loud speakers mounted on all kinds of vehicles, urging us to vote in favour of some candidate or the other. Thankfully, these monsters seem to have taken a back seat, at least for the present moment, thus helping us to enjoy some peace and tranquility and hold on to our sanity. But if you try and look a little beyond this semblance of peace, you’ll find that nothing else has really changed about the way our leaders seek our votes or even about the way we elect them.

Unseen by most of us who prefer not to have anything to do with the election process beyond quietly going like sheep with our heads bowed, to the polling booths to cast our votes on polling day, everything else that can be called not just the bane but rather the Frankenstein of Indian politics remains not only very much alive and kicking but rejuvenated a hundred fold.

The shameless caste and community considerations, the fanning of communal flames, the luring of voters with cheap liquor, the buying of votes with wads of ill - gotten currency notes, the digging out of rotting and smelly skeletons from cupboards where they had been carefully stored just for occasions like this and switching of party loyalties by our netas for a few pennies without any concern either for their own ideologies or our sentiments, all remain the same as ever.

Among all the things that will remain just the same after this election too, will be the age-old non performance of our elected representatives in doing any good either to our individual existence or to our collective image as a progressive and powerful nation.

It is a well - known fact that to most of our leaders elected in perhaps the most expensive electoral process on earth, to lead and guide us, their five year sojourn in Delhi is only a paid holiday without any sense of responsibility or accountability. While all of them enjoy all the perks that go with their position, most of them either do not attend the Parliament sessions where the fate of our future is decided. Even if they do enter the Parliament house, it is only to doze there in air - conditioned comfort. That is why the few rotten apples with varied vested interests whom we blame as being responsible for all the bad that befalls us, get away with all that is good only for them.

Lastly, while we can dismiss the vote seekers' misdeeds and their election manifesto as an accepted part of their well-known crooked nature, can we say the same about ourselves, the ones who are directly responsible for their coming to power?

Buying votes:
We blame politicians for shamelessly buying votes and even blame the poor, illiterate for selling them so cheaply. But have we paused to ponder how we, the so - called educated ones are using them. When we do not mind casting our votes in favour of someone with a clear criminal record, are we too not abetting in the crime?

Are we, especially the ones who call ourselves not only educated but also claim to be the cream of our society, any different either from the dishonest politician, the scum of our society, who selfishly buys his votes or the poor, ill-fed and ill-clad, homeless man who sleeps on the pavement who after having been forced to part with all that he once had in life, now has nothing else to sell except his vote to stay alive? Now that you have heard my voice, do sit back and think about it well before you cast your vote.