nd form a deciding factor in political churning. It’s been too long since this section has been kept away from policy matters, by manipulative people cleverly positioning themselves to represent their angst. The age of patronizing is over. Its time that dalits should represent themselves in all field rather being represented (there is a cottage industry here) or being used as a token. Till recently most dalit leaders (or other visible presence in public space) where generally part of tokenism Mayawati showed what dalit power can achieve with bit of manipulation. Of course I am against casteism but we are talking within the system. Meaning she defeated them in there own game that too in the largest state. The best thing about her is that she is very open about her ambitions unlike the manipulative types, who talk about saving the nation and actually are more into looting. She needs no gloss, no TV studios. This is the most significant aspect of her achievement, in media driven world of metros this is a lesson. It is not a surprise that most media failed to predict her stupendous win. It definitely puts question mark on representativeness of media, the kind of survey they bring out on us and the society we live in, clearly it’s all a sham. And yes despite all its hype English media doesn’t really have the competence to interview Mayawati….that is if she has the time and inclination. When more and more leaders from marginalized section get into Union cabinet and other significant positions it will be a respite from metro based studio hoppers, the media savvy, the gloss. TV programmers (read spin doctors) will have to work extra time to search for ‘people like us’!!!. For politicians like Mayawati there is however a danger of too much dependency by cadre on her at the expense of organization. Also realpolitik compulsion may see her not representing all the aspiration of dalit, but it nevertheless is a significant achievement. The ‘muslim factor’ has seen politicians supplicating fundamentalists (and elite) of the community and thus detrimental to democracy, ‘dalit factor’ however is expected to strengthen the democratic process by making it more representative.Corruption is a serious issue but there is a mischief in bringing Taj corridor case at this point, one wonders whether judiciary is being manipulated. This coincidence of Mayawati elected as Chief Minister and case against her surfacing at the same time is strange. Further people from poorer sections find it difficult to contest elections and run party. Unlike say our boy Arun jaitley, who is a millionaire and without being elected ever was a Union minister!! What spoke was his money and influence (meaning corporate backing). And now he does the round of TV studios with a specific intention of usurping the gains of Party workers. It is imperative that Election commission need to provide money for Dalits and tribals contesting elections or their election expense be refunded if they get certain percentage of Vote. Otherwise it becomes more of Reservation by people like Arun Jaitley. The system at this point seems to be balanced in favor of people like Jaitley, which in civilized world will be defined as corruption.
