India's Elections

Now that the elections are over in India, where the ruling Congress party came back with a thumping majority much contrary to the predictions of political pundits. So here's an interesting article in Indian express revealing statistic about the wealth of the recently elected members of parliament (MPs). Infact all MPs elected from my home state of Andhra topped the list with a combined wealth of 600 crore rupees (6 Billion rupees).

Now is that a statistic that one should be proud that India is getting rich and the rich bloc are getting into politics finally or to be ashamed that democracy is being hijacked by the rich while increasing even further gap by the rich and poor (nearly 15 per cent of the people living in abject poverty for eg in Andhra Pradesh). Ofcourse we also need to be reminded that declared wealth of politicians is only tip of the iceberg, the true wealth could be beyond our imagination.

No wonder when I spoke to my Dad in India on his opinion of the recent elections, he said one word "despicable". Ofcourse all is not gloom and doom.. there's a brighter side to these elections and change is occuring of course at a snail's pace.

This again from own home state of Andhra, where JP, the former buearucrat leader of the newly formed Loksatta (People's power) Party won against cash-rich traditional political parties and all odds, on ideal beliefs of rooting out corruption, and getting back to grass roots movement that once Gandhi led, through what JP calls "a second independence movement". It's one seat only that the party won, but it's a beginning.. and am sure we will only see it grow in to a formidable opponent in the years to come.