Funday Times

Election in the Jungle
Sam, the rabbit rushed to a nearby dear, Lami, giving some papers and said, “Lami you got to support our Jumbo party” and rushed back again, while Pipe, a bear came in.

“What happened to our Sam?” Inquired Pipe, inquisitively. “Don’t you know, Sam is handling the election campaign for Jumbo Party” answered Lami. “What ? ..Elections?” exclaimed Pipe, “didn’t we have an election a week before and elected Fox Party for another four years”. “But everybody said it wasn’t a free and fair election” replied Lami.

“ Didn’t we have our sea friends- sharks and whales as our election monitors” said Pipe, taking the Jumbo party election manifesto from Lami’s hand.
“That’s where the problem starts”
“What do you mean?”

“Well.... everyone questioned how could sharks and whales monitor elections fairly and precisely from the sea” said Lami. “That’s true. Then who’s going to monitor the election this time?” asked Pipe, curiously. “Don’t you know….this time we all decided to have King of Birds, Eagle and Wise Owl, because they have the capacity to view from above” said Lami, trying to move.

“Are you not coming to see Leo Party Elections campaign?” enquired Pipe. “ I am planning to visit Jumbo Party campaign right now. That‘s in the afternoon, now it’s Leo’s campaign” said Pipe, “let’s go”.
Pipe took Lami with him to Leo’s campaign.

Leo Party leader, the head lion, stood on the podium, ready to talk. Behind him, his ministers seated according to their rank, looked very cruelly. Many animals are present and Leo Party leader started to speak.
“ Dear friends, I do not need any kind of introduction as all of you know –I am the King of the Jungle-the great leader. It is I who could create balance among our committee. If you elect me as the president, I promise to safeguard our national boundary from all kinds of attacks. If you want a secure future you got to vote for our party. “

Everyone clapped for the Leo Party Leader, after he finished his speech.
Afterwards, Lami and Pipe walked towards crowded Jumbo Party campaign. The Party leader stood on the podium and started to speak with a smile.
“ Good afternoon, my dear friends. It’s a great pleasure to see most of our jungle friends participating in my campaigns. My party ruled the jungle so many times. And this time, I am sure of winning this election with your kind mandate. If you elect me as your president again, I will promise to find peace among us- I promise that no one will fight again for our land. So if you wanted to safeguard national integrity you got to vote for our party.”

Everyone clapped for the Jumbo Party Leader, after he finished his speech.
Next, Lami and Pipe went to fox party campaign. Only few were present. Most of them were reptiles like crocodile, iguana, lizards and so on. Lami and Pipe sat in the front row and the Fox Party leader started to speak with a mocking laugh.

“You know this election is nothing but a waste of time. The other two parties couldn’t prove themselves and started to promote elections again. Both parties have also neglected our reptile friends. (All the reptiles looked at each other and nodded ‘yes’) But Fox Party is the only party, which is truly looking at the welfare of each and every animal living in this jungle, including our reptile friends. I promise to have weekly meeting of all creatures living in this land and fulfil their needs. So if you want to have a friendly outlook, you got to vote for Fox Party.

Everyone clapped for the Fox Party Leader, after he finished his speech.
On the way home, Lami and Pipe walked together. “Whom are you planning to vote this time?” questioned Pipe. “ I haven’t decided yet- whoever comes to power –it’s not going to make any difference. They promise a lot- but nothing ever happens” replied Lami, and walked back.

Sun rose again – a new day – the day of election. Many animals stood in a queue to cast their vote. Eagle flew very frequently over the polling booth. Owl sat on a branch and observed the animals.
Suddenly, animal thugs came into the scene, with sharp weapons and started to disturb the crowd. Party leaders of all three groups came in and started to argue. This argument turned into a huge fight.
Eagle flew furiously, screaming, “Stop fighting- stop it!”. All of a sudden everyone stood still.

“Every time there’s an election, most of us use violence to win the election. Don’t you understand –many are killed in these riots. And you all call this democracy?” said Eagle.
Then Wise Owl flew towards the eagle and said, “Let not election be the way to promote democracy among us…Let it be for the human race”
By N. Dilshath Banu

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