Common man bears the brunt

The ruling BJP has got its third chief minister in just about four years. But with the dramatis personae invoking caste to score brownie points, and the last-minute jockeying to grab plum ministerial posts grabbing headlines, the transition of power was anything but pleasant.

With the general elections less than a year away, do people have faith in the leaders who invoke caste?

If a ministerial post is the be-all and end-all of democracy, where does that leave the common man?

Those people whom Metrolife spoke to seem very critical about the latest political developments and have nothing positive to say about the turn of events.

The common man thinks that the dramatic developments at the government level is making a mockery of the democratic structure and framework. They point out that with the latest turn of events, it is evident that caste, money and petty egos rule the roost.

The interests of the people and the betterment of infrastructure in the City don’t seem to matter to the powers that be, who are only too busy furthering their own agenda.
Nakul Shenoy, a corporate speaker, says, “It is a complete mockery of our democratic framework. Appointing a chief minister based on caste is taking casteism to another level. The last chief minister was at least an honest leader, who could have helped the cause of the State.” He adds, “It is clear that only money and ego rule the roost, and the needs of the people are forgotten.”

There are a few young IT professionals like Jitesh Pamnani who thinks development in the City is almost nil. “The musical chair, which the members of BJP are playing, and the irresponsibility with which they are handling the State is directly reflected on the development of the State,” he says.

“Traffic jams are only getting worse by the day. The prestigious Namma Metro is not only progressing at a snail’s pace but has left behind new problems for the commuters. Such is the situation in the City,” he adds. He feels there will be a difference only if the educated people exercise their right to vote and choose the right leader.

Mahammed Irshad, a team-building consultant, notes that the politicians are busy settling political scores at a time when people are battling with drought, water shortage, power disruptions, endless traffic jams and poor development. “The sudden change in the leadership will surely take its toll on the stability of the State and affect the lives of  ordinary people like us. People’s interests must come before caste or religion,” adds Mahammed.   

Varsha Murthy, a first-year degree student of Mount Carmel College who travels by bus, says, “Political developments lead to wide-spread protests and supporters block the roads which lead to traffic jams. It is the ordinary people who pay the price for the political drama.”