My vote

So whom did I vote for in the elections three days ago? The answer is irrelevant really, but at least I had a reason -- and most voters don't have one.

My mom recalls that in 1967, when C.N. Annadurai, fondly known as Arignar Anna, was campaigning, it was his practice to walk past every home and personally ask people to vote for the DMK. Those were days when Chennai had no TV station. Air-conditioned, high-security cars were not in vogue. And candidates used to walk, walk and walk to canvass for votes. (You see, they still remembered Gandhi in those days.)

Cut to 2006. The sitting MLA (2001 - 2006) in my constituency didn't come to within 2 kilometres of our locality. That's ok, really, because people in power forget those who voted for them.

But during this campaign, neither the DMK nor the ADMK candidate visited my locality. Agreed, it is the largest constituency in Asia, yet it is their place. If they want votes, they better come around and ask. I'm not saying they must come to every home and break bread with all of us. But what stops them from a drive past every single road?

I voted for neither principal party. I voted for the candidate who drove past my home canvassing for votes. He belonged to a party that won't win at all, I was sure. But he had passed the simple criterion. It was like Alan Shearer or Francesco Totti staying put at the same club though they knew they wouldn't win anything - yet they played week in week out. All they played for was the cheering crowd.

I voted for _____ of the ______ party, because he was the only one who cared to come around.