5th Column

A change in Constitution, what do people desire?
"Thaaththa," Bindu Udagedera asked, "why is this coming election so important for the country?"
"Why, Bindu, we have had so many elections and so many unstable governments in the past few years…" Bindu's father Percy tried to explain.

"So, are you saying that we should elect a very stable government at this election?"
"Yes," Percy said, "at least that is what we must try to do…"
"But why is a very stable government so important, thaaththa?" Bindu wanted to know.

"Why Bindu, if we don't have a stable government after this election, we will have yet another election in less than two years…"
"But thaaththa," Bindu argued, "I don't see any real change despite all these elections…"
"Why do you say that?"

"Why, thaaththa, if the Blues and Reds win, they say they will change the Constitution to enable Satellite to remain in charge for the next six years so there won't be any change at all…"
"But to do that, Bindu, she has to become Prime Minister and that is a real change…"
"But knowing her, thaaththa, she will become Prime Minister only after serving the balance years of her Presidency…"
"What makes you so sure of that?"

"Why, thaaththa, she is usually late so she will be late to take her oaths as Prime Minister as well…"
"Or she might even take oaths as Prime Minister secretly and tell us about it a few years later…" Percy suggested.

"And," Bindu pointed out, "as Prime Minister she can chop and change ministries whenever she feels like it and take over the Lotteries Board when money is needed for propaganda, so nothing would have changed…"
"But, Bindu all that is possible only if the Blues and Reds win," Percy said, "there has to be some change if the Greens win…"

"Why should there be any change, thaaththa?" Bindu asked, "Satellite will still be the President and she will carry on regardless of whatever mandate is given to the Greens…"
"And that is exactly why we should elect a very strong and stable government so that neither the government nor the President is able to do whatever they want and get away with it…"

"But thaaththa," Bindu persisted, "even then, nothing will really change, will it?"
"Why do you say that?"
"Why, thaaththa, what is the real difference between the two camps when both are insisting they will talk to the Tigers, that they will not disturb the economy, that they will allow the media to be absolutely free and that they are all there only to serve us even better…"

"That is true," Percy conceded, "it is a hard choice between the two because our country is blessed with so many patriotic politicians…"
"So, thaaththa, don't you think the people are tired of making all these choices every two years?"
"Even I would rather forget all this and watch Murali get the world record…" Percy agreed.

"But thaaththa," Bindu said, "you will have to watch out for two Muralis now; in fact one of them might hold the key to the election…"
"Why is that, Bindu?" Percy was puzzled.
"Why, thaaththa, I believe Karuna's real name is Murali too…"
"In that case, Murali will be a real match winner now…" Percy said.
Bindu didn't disagree.

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