If you were a voter of Tamil Nadu, whom shall you vote for?

Rebel,
If you were a voter of Tamil Nadu, whom shall you vote for?

My countryman,
Though the question is seemingly simple, I need to sit back and think before I answer this question. Being a strong nationalist and democrat, I must vote. However, if that happens, I have to choose, quite unfortunately, between two devils. (or many devils). I have really no choice. Similar is the case if were in other states too. I don't see a good leader whom I can trust completely and exercise my vote for him or her. Shockingly, I don't see anyone who can proudly claim my vote in the near future.

I am not sounding an alarming bell here, but that is the fact. We can only choose between devils.
Let us come back to Tamil Nadu. If I were to exercise my vote in Tamil Nadu, I will vote for the party that would bring some kind of relief to the common masses be it in the way of freebies like TV sets or Sarees or whatever. Interestingly, I was not a fan of Karunanidhi, and I am not a fan even now. In fact, I had a little sympathy for Jayalalithaa because I though she was more 'nationlistic' than other leaders in Tamil Nadu. Over months, not years, there is change in my perception. Let me tell you why there is a sudden shift in my stance towards these two personalities.

Karunanidhi, though accused of favouring his sons or his family, looks like a genuine leader. People accuse him of favouring his family. Which politician in India can be exempted from that charge? From the first family in the country to the chief ministers in the south, everyone is accused of nepotism in one way or another. Even in Kerala, there is an allegation that Chief Minister Achuthanandan's son is interefering in political decisions. Again back to Tamil Nadu. MK Stalin, not the elder one Alagiri, appears to be a promising leader, and I will vote for him. Notwithstanding several accusations levelled against him, he is poised to lead the state to progress in the coming years. I see glimpses of several leadership qualities in Stalin. He is the best for Tamil Nadu under the prevailing conditions.

Then, the other day, I read a report belitting the freebies given to the people like free TV sets, sarees etc. Though there is a 'right' in their arguments, I don't see anything wrong in such actions.(I am a layman, not an intellectual.) The argument against the freebies is that they do not make people self-reliant. It means a state should strive to improve people's purchasing power before giving them freebies. I would agree. However, does it mean that a generation must live without these basic things before they are enable to purchase them. How long it would take to make the self-sufficient? How long it would take to improve the purchasing power of the people? Decades? Centuries? Do these intellectual mean our starving millions should live without these basic pleasures that long?

I would have supported Jaya had she stuck to her stance on many issues. However, even she modified her stand towards the LTTE when the Eealm war was raing in Sri Lanka. I don't think that sudden found love was meant to help those who were dying in the battle zones. She took a such stand because she thought it would bring her political dividents after erroneously sensing the mood of Tamil electorates. However, she was wrong. Even the staunch supporter of Prabhakran, Mr Vaiko, had to bite the dust in the polls. And now, I wonder how could she join hands with someone whom she had jailed for speaking in support of the Tigers.She has no fixed agenda.

The most important thing is you are not going to see any visible changes unless these parties work dedicatedly for the welfare of the people. The end result is we can only choose between two devils. I would definitely vote for someone who is 'more nationalistic' than others. I will vote for someone who can at least wipe the tears of our suffering countrymen. Now, you know whom I will vote for?

Regards,
Rebel