Let’s use rallies to ask politicos some hard questions

Representational image. Pic/iStock

It was a weekend of rallies and meetings as locals pressed their candidates for the Lok Sabha elections to meet them at different spots. The ante is zooming for voting day In Mumbai with one week to go for the city to choose its representatives, on May 20.

We have witnessed rallies on certain roads and crowds at locations where candidates are supposed to arrive and address the people. Mumbai has to in fact show local leaders that citizens are mature, calm and concentrate on what they are saying, ask the right questions and demand accountability.

Keep discipline at these rallies, and do not get swept in by unnecessary rabble-rousing rhetoric. Drivers of vehicles, which are forced to stall or idle as groups walk past must be careful and observe discipline. Do not resort to impatience or road rage. In fact, cynicism and scoffing notwithstanding you are part of the world's biggest democracy exercising her right to franchise.

Even at meets to listen to candidates, a calm, questioning means putting forth points adroitly, rather than that degenerating into some kind of shouting match. When that happens, the representative in fact escapes from being held accountable by people who would want to hear why such and such an issue remains unaddressed.

It is also good to show our politicians that we, as people are not going to allow these meetings to slide into mayhem, and give them free reign to say that they were willing to take questions and answer them but the atmosphere meant they had to exit or keep quiet altogether. Show them that we are going to insist on some response, not get swept away by bombast, and we have the discipline and determination to do so. Make these meetings even if they are just for votes, count in the most effective way possible.