The great democratic exercise at the grass-roots level

Kerala has again become politically vibrant with the announcement of election schedule for the local bodies, which are slated for October 23 and 25. Results would be announced on October 27. The new leadership would be in place on November 1. Mind you, that is the States Reorganisation Day, and is marked as Keralappiravi.

We may speak about political overplay, corruption that dominates various echelons etc, but the very fact that we can conduct elections even at the village level is something of a great achievement compared to many other states.

This time women get 50 per cent of the seats and they have been allotted panchayats, municipalities and corporations where the fair sex would have presiding seats.
Mahatma Gandhi had visualised gram panchayats sans political affiliations. But that cannot be in a state like Kerala which has an overdose of politics. We have seen panchayat regimes changing hands as even one or two persons defect to the other side.

With all these proclivities, let us welcome the great democratic exercise and hope for the best for better development, social awareness, continuing and leapfrogging education, avenues for all for bigtime opportunities in the job sector and what not.
Democracy may be reckoned as something of a cacophony and babble, perceiving certain evil tendencies. But that is definitely the best practice and holding elections every five years speak well of our system to this extent. Remember we had times when panchayat elections could not be held for even 13 years.