Reports appearing in various modes of media, loaded with data citing official sources and also opinions of those who count for their incisive analysis of public affairs through highly readable articles seem to generate both hope and despair for the world’s largest, read most populous democracy. The detractors of virtually every administration, no matter which political party is in the high perch, unhesitatingly downgrade the claims to a shining nation, calling the related disclosures as mere bluff. Demanding proof for the much-hyped recent retaliatory action on armed agents of the hostile neighbour across the border and scoffing at the Prime Minister’s pride about the country’s giant leap in raising its capabilities of neutralising possible strikes from space in the camps of the opposition, choosing the days preceding general election as most appropriate, seem to have inured the masses to their suffering on myriad counts, particularly the plight of the country’s millions bugged by poverty.

The parameters favoured by economists, to inform the land’s people that all is well with their country, namely (a) Gross Domestic Product, (b) Food inflation in single digit, (c) Reducing the poverty level significantly, (d) Rising life expectancy and so on have not exactly proved effective in making aam janata feel gratified about the track record of successive governments.

Promises from the vociferous vote-seekers have come thick and fast these past few days making even the most destitute sections in the land dream of having everything they wished for, prompting one to cite the proverb “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride them”, without meaning to disrespect the poorest of the poor in the country. The vainglorious words of assurance being used in the run up to the day of polling and mutually hurled accusations and abuses by the vote-seekers, apart from their action of wooing the voters by all-too-familiar unedifying means are described by seasoned analysts of public affairs as the most polarised poll in the country’s seven decades since gaining independence from colonial rule.

Given the profiles of those aspiring to be the country’s law-makers, elaborating which is unnecessary, a hung Parliament is thought to be a better option than rule by one or the other major single political party. In sum, the electorate, fickle as it is, owes it to itself to send the best persons to Parliament in the gamble of reducing their suffering and brightening its shining.