A gram panchayat election in Kerala is a classic case of just how many centuries India lives in simultaneously.
Sample this — the Communist Party of India (CPI) is supposed to be anti-feudal. In a decision that flies in the face of anything ‘anti-feudal,’ it has told a young man to get married, in order to fulfill a promise made to his father about giving the young man a party ticket for the panchayat elections.
Gram panchayat elections in Kerala are to be held in November and VR Rajesh of Neduvathoor village is busy killing two birds with one stone – inviting people for his wedding, while simultaneously canvassing for votes.
Killing Two Birds With One Stone
Neduvathoor gram panchayat is a CPI stronghold and the party appears to be of the view that it will win regardless of who the candidate is.
The party had promised Rajendran, a local farmers’ leader, that his son Rajesh would be given the party ticket – unofficially of course – in the seat reserved for Scheduled Castes.
But when elections were announced, the party was in for a shock: the ward had been reserved for Scheduled Caste women.
The CPI then had a brainwave: Rajesh’s wife could contest the election. But the bright idea immediaely hit a roadblock: Rajesh is a bachelor. So, the logical conclusion was for Rajesh to find a wife.
Loyal footsoldier of the party, Rajesh bent backwards to comply with the party’s diktat.
The party asked me to get married. My only condition to the prospective bride’s parents was that she should be willing to contest elections.
—Rajesh
He soon zeroed in on a woman named Mahija. The pair is now going door-to-door to invite people for their wedding on October 19. They are also, of course, canvassing for votes for the bride-to-be.
Rajesh and Mahija are not marrying for love or respect, nor is she contesting the elections to increase women’s representation in politics. The whole thing has come about because of a feudal promise made by a patriarchal party to the family patriarch.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)