PLANNING TO REAP RICH HARVEST PREYING ON VOTERS' GREED

A demagogue has been defined as a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument.

- SIDHARTH MISHRA

Now that's what most of the political leaders in India are good at doing. Let's discuss the two elements in the definition - desires and prejudices.

Leaders play in different degrees on these two elements as per the condition and the character of the political turf. However, the assembly polls in Delhi has for the past decade has seen entry of another element - greed. Political leaders have taken to in a big way playing on the greed of the people. In the past two elections we saw people voting in large numbers first for free power and then free water.

This time around there are unique freebies being ferreted out. However, before we discuss these freebies let's do examine the qualities of the leader who is setting the tone of the game - Arvind Kejriwal. Nobody in the past has understood the greedy nature of the electors of Delhi as has Arvind Kejriwal.