Inter-cropping is a new experiment being witnessed in the agriculture fields of Moga. Progressive farmers egged on by scientists are trying to grow two or more crops in the same field hoping to get better returns. The crops like wheat and Mint are chosen on the basis of their compatibility and certain studies that those can grow together without harming the other.
In the political field, an experiment of inter-cropping of politicians is nearing its climax. In two days, Moga residents will press the buttons of the electric voting machine not to vote for issues, development or party but for acceptance or rejection of an interesting experiment, which may set a phenomenal precedent for good or bad reasons.
Unlike the agriculture field, the list of the politicians uprooted from one field and planted on the other is endless. So many leaders ranging from the Akali Candidate Joginder pal Jain to a ground worker have switched side that it is difficult to keep pace with their names.
But like the agriculture fields, the farmers ( read leaders like Dy cm Sukhbir Singh Badal) are hoping the crops will help each other grow and provide the fruits of victory. What remains to be seen is the impact of this inter-cropping on the polity of the country.
On the face of it, it is a battle pitched between Sukhbir Singh Badal and Congress president Capt Amarinder Singh. Who so ever wins will get a boost for the target of becoming the Chief Minister in case of Sukhbir and emerge as the strongest leader of the party, in case of the congress president.
Closer look reveals the victory would have an impact not just on those two but on others down the rank. The Akalis have divided the constituency into small pockets making a MLA or a Minister incharge of as small an area of five villages. The poll result will decide the leader’s growth or decline in next few years.
The Akalis are not viewing it just as one seat. They want complete majority in the state. The seat would bring the seat no. 59. The BJP leaders, on the other hand, do not view the likely victory as a threat to their position in the SAD-BJP coalition. Talk to the leaders, and they show a ready data of how Akalis won many seats at thin margin only because of the clout of the BJP.
Similarly, the congress too had tried to put all strength of the state level leaders into the constituency. They would have got some boost if a national leader had joined the campaigning aggressively. The small battle of Moga could have proved psychological edge in the war ahead in form of 2014 parliamentary elections.
With the campaigning ending this evening, the ball would be in the court of the voter. Only he or she will decide whether the politics of inter-cropping would become a precedent in politics and we would witness more by-elections. Or the experiment is better left to agriculture only?
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