and then your electors and
yourself only after them – You can then never go wrong. Learn from the lessons of lost vanity of your predecesrors if you want proof.
I
blogged last night about the fight for nominations, even though only a few get
elected and billions will be waged on the fashion parade, of why me! I was just
informed this morning of a real life incident, that culminated yesterday, the
details of which I will now set out.
An
Organizer we shall call Anal, as put forward Banal as his choice bypassing
Canal, who is by any measure of integrity, the most suitable. The organizer has
been advised that he can nominate 3 people from his electorate to contest in
the Provincial Council Elections for the Western Provincial Council. He also
happens to be an MP.
Up
to this point, Canal had organized his whole campaign strategy, set aside the
initial 25% of the expected cost, and had a fund raising plan for the remaining
75% using his trusted aides dedicated just for that role. He realized that
during the campaign if he had to personally stress himself about this aspect
also that would damage his prospects.
As
a relatively young member who is also the seniormost member of his Pradeshiya
Sabha, he already had a base, a reputation as a worker to start with and the
ability to muster a team of 100 dedicated full time volunteers for his
campaign. He studied the district and determined how many votes he must target
from each of the electorates including his, to aim for at least twice the
required votes he would need to get in.
In
this game it is important NOT just to battle for the same voter base from one’s
own party, the classic, incorrect and shortsighted goal of most seeking election,
but from outside the traditional base, if one is to increase one’s chances, as
well as the party’s chances to increase the total vote and increase the numbers
of Members that could get elected, helping all those candidates to improve upon
their chances. As a young member appealing to youth and who has helped numerous
youth clubs with obtaining playing fields, a very tough search in the highly
populated Western Province, makes him a darling of young people irrespective of
party affiliation, and includes women voters.
It
must be said that just the votes of those who have never before cast a vote at
an election, can make the difference for a party from winning or losing he
Western Provincial Council, reitierating the importance of the first time voter
as well as an effective strategy to target that vote, and make headway with
that population alone. Further he has a plan to convert the vote of his opposing
parties to him, due to his ability to offer a more digestible alternative to the
current status quo.
This
has not been and will never be a priority of the person who instead has
received the nomination. This person who got the nod, in fact was one who has lost
the same Pradeshiya Sabha badly and is clearly the less suitable candidate who
is bound to lose badly, no matter how he perceives his chances.
So
why has this asinine choice been made? One thing is certain that Anal fears
competition in the future for his own longevity in parliament. After all if he
wins the Provincial Council and with a good result, he would definitely be a
contender for the next parliamentary election and is bound to take some
preference votes that would go to Anal. The alternative person with no chance
of winning is NOT going to be so privileged!
A
further consideration is, the youth vote can be directed at younger contender
in the Parliamentary Election, if he does not contest, or is not given the
ticket due to the fear of competition. These two fears together means that he
is intent on putting a loser with NO chance lest his future ambitions are
checked!
The
result of this action is that his party will get fewer votes, possibly even
mean the loss of a provincial council member or two due to this personal goals
taking precedence, and the party loses a god chance of winning the election as
a whole. The latter because there are about 5 people doing the same thing when multiplied
five times can add up to a lot of missed votes.
By
this selfish action, Anal has prevented his party from winning the elections, thereby
costing both his party and moreover his country a chance at an improved environment
all around, and his community of being served more diligently, by a local boy who
has already proved he can help his community.
Due
to party rules giving Anal overriding control over who he permits, the rejected
candidate has no choice but to accept the decision, and bite his tongue. This is
why the country as a whole cannot have a visionary future, as those with a future
are prevented by one living in the past.
Steps must be taken to prevent this formula
from destroying the future of a political party, and lessens the desire of the electorate
to vote, when they see NO appealing candidates in the fray. It is a tragic end to
democracy when such behavior is condoned.
To repeat the subject, If you put country first and then your party, your tangible benefit will automatically flow to you, as spoils of war, and not just as a reallocation of the losers crumbs, from which you may not even be able to survive.
We must identify these frightened reactionaries and consign them to the dustbin of history from whence they can never emerge. Amen
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