Assembly polls: We don't need astrologers to forecast the 'auspicious' time for our netas
If time is precious for everyone, everywhere — for Indian politicians, it's only auspicious.
Come elections and this becomes more evident.
In the run-up to the Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Telangana, politicians cutting across party lines were seen tracking the position of the sun, moon, planets, chilli, lemons and everything — but the pulse of the voters.
In Telangana, politicians across party lines are reportedly flocking to a studio in Hyderabad to get their pictures clicked. They strongly believe that a photograph clicked at Aruna Studio ensures a sure-shot election win.
While it is not known if all those who queued outside Aruna Studio will be happy with the big picture post-polls (Telangana goes to polls on December 7), owner Satish is surely a happy man. If the man is to be believed, many leaders like KT Rama Rao, T Harish Rao and Kadiam Srihari among others, call him to their residence as they cannot visit the studio because of security reasons.
Earlier in August, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia was seen flaunting a garland made of lemon and chillies while campaigning in Mandsaur. Indians, of course, don't need to be told the importance of "nimbu mirchi" politics. If Scindia was hoping to ward off the evil eye with lemon and chillies, he certainly failed to do so, as he invited criticism from all corners for perpetuating superstition. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also one of them.
But Chouhan himself seems of be a victim of the same credulity. The Chief Minister reportedly for years strictly stayed away from two constituencies – Ashok Nagar and Ichhawar — following a superstition that chief ministers who set foot on these places, end up losing power. Some new reports, however, claimed the CM later changed his mind after Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year praised Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath for busting the ‘Noida jinx’.
If Madhya Pradesh saw a 'nimbu mirchi' exigency, Rajasthan got to see rebel BJP strongman, Ghanshyam Tiwari, after reaching the office of the returning officer to file his nomination, waited for 13 minutes for the "auspicious moment" before submitting his papers. The man reportedly even stated chanting a mantra before going ahead.
But can you blame one leader in a House full of such 'believers'?
In February, legislators in the state made news for calling for purification of the Assembly building which they claimed was haunted by spirits. According to the lawmakers, the House that is built on a cremation ground never retains its maximum strength of 200 members for far too long either because someone resigns, someone dies, or someone goes to jail. And they blame it on ‘evil spirits’.
Sure, what are jails but a soul trap?
They even urged Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to call priests to pacify the ‘buri aatma’. Some news reports said that a priest was even spotted performing rituals near the Assembly entrance. The long-held belief was revived, following the demise of two BJP MLAs.
Needless to say, the fault, dear voters, is definitely in our stars.