Don’t be surprised if this is a scene you soon witness somewhere in our country.
A huge political rally is in progress. Loudspeakers are blaring, party workers are waving flags with religious devotion, television cameras are focused on the stage, and thousands wait for the newest political convert to address them. He has crossed over only a few days earlier and has already declared that he has finally found the party that truly represents his ideals. Curiously, these ideals always seem to change just before elections.
The master of ceremonies announces him as the brave leader who has always stood firmly for the party. The applause is deafening. The politician walks confidently to the microphone, smiles broadly, adjusts it with great dignity, and then suddenly freezes.
A terrible thought enters his mind. Which party am I in?
He glances nervously at the leaders seated behind him. They all look unfamiliar. He looks at the scarves around their necks, hoping the party symbol will remind him. Unfortunately, they are all wearing the scarves backwards. His secretary, standing below the stage, begins making frantic hand signals, but the politician mistakes them for requests to smile at the cameras.
He clears his throat. “My dear brothers and sisters, for years I fought against corruption, and that is why I proudly joined…”
He stops.
Joined whom?
The crowd waits patiently.
He tries again.
“Our great leader has always inspired me.”
He leans sideways and whispers into the microphone, “What is his name?”
The audience bursts into laughter.
Determined to recover, he declares, “Our opponents have completely destroyed this nation.”
Thunderous applause.
“Which is exactly why I worked with them for so many years.”
Silence.
“I mean before they lost their way.”
More silence.
“They lost their way after I found mine.”
Now nobody knows whether to clap or call for a walking stick, or medical assistance.
The poor fellow continues bravely, praising the achievements of his former party before attacking them in the next sentence, then accidentally promises to fulfil the election manifesto of the opposition. By now even the television anchors are struggling to control their laughter.
As I watched this imaginary scene unfold in my mind, I realised it may not remain imaginary for very long. With politicians changing parties as often as our great leader changes his makeup and clothes, confusion is bound to arrive one day.
Perhaps before every political speech, an aide should quietly ask one simple question.
“Sir, before you begin, will you please repeat after me the name of the political party you belong to today!”
In these days of political defections, that may well become the most important briefing before any public meeting…!