"It is because people like you have been keeping away from politics that politics is getting rotten."
"You are a political leader and you are saying this!"
"I have never hesitated to speak the truth. I am forced to give tickets to many worthless people for contesting in elections, since I have not been able to get enough number of deserving candidates" said Karmegam. "This time, you will be contesting in this constituency, as our party candidate" he added.
"No, sir. Leave me out of this. I don't know anything about politics" said Kaliyamurthy.
"It doesn't matter. You don't have to do anything. Right from filing the nomination, through conducting the campaign, to canvassing for votes, we will do everything. It is enough if you just stand there, with folded hands, showing a gesture of seeking votes politely!"
Kaliyamurthy filed his nomination and launched his campaign with the help of the partymen.
Initially, Kaliyamurthy felt a little embarrassed that despite being a person with a high status in society, gained by being a leading businessman and an educationist, he had to bow to people and seek their votes. But, he consoled himself that he was doing it only as a social service.
However, he felt uncomfortable listening to the party leaders' undignified speeches, containing slanderous remarks about leaders of other political parties and about leaders belonging to certain castes.
When Kaliyamurthy conveyed his displeasure about these remarks to the speakers, they dismissed his concerns saying, "Sir! Only if we say such things, our supporters will feel enthused to vote for us."
Kaliyamurthy conveyed his concerns to Karmegam.
"This the norm in politics. You will get accustomed to this, soon enough" said Karmegam, nonchalantly.
Kaliyamurthy was shocked by Karmegam's reply.
The voting was over. Counting of the votes was scheduled to take place after two days.
Kaliyamurthy's long-time friend Subbiah came to see him.
"What is this, Kaliyamurthy? Why are you doing this?" asked Subbiah, in an accusing tone
Though Kaliyamurthy himself had been reflecting on whether he had committed a mistake by contesting the elections, he didn't want to share his misgivings with his friend.
"Are you saying that I shouldn't contest the elections?" asked Kaliyamurthy.
"Anyone can contest the election. But you are contesting as a candidate of a caste-based party."
"Karmegam is well known to me. When he requested me to contest as a candidate of his party, I agreed. I didn't choose this party, on caste considerations."
"You and I belong to the same caste. But we have never had caste feelings. You have a good reputation as an industrialist and as a person running educational institutes. All along, people would not even have given a thought to which caste you belong to. But, by getting you projected as a candidate belonging to a particular caste, you have diminished your image. When the leaders of your party, sitting by your side in the campaign meetings, made scathing attacks on leaders belonging to other castes, would it not have created a bad impression about you in the minds of people belonging to those castes? The good impression people had about you would have been tarnished at least to some extent. Won't some people look at you as a caste leader now?" asked Subbiah.
Kaliyamurthy remained silent.
The election results were announced. Kaliyamurthy lost the election. But, his defeat, rather than making him feel sad or disappointed, made him feel relieved and even happy.
Kaliyamurthy resolved that he should never commit a mistake like this again, but would focus only on running his business and his educational institutions and strive to get back the goodwill and reputation he had lost, as a result of his bad decision.
Section 2
Acting After Due Consideration
koLLAdha koLLAdhu ulagu.
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