Games and polls seem to rule our lives

“Thaaththa,” Bindu Udagedera asked, “what is all this fuss about cricket?”
“Why, Bindu,” Bindu’s father Percy said, “everyone is interested in cricket these days because of the World Cup that is being played here…”
“But thaaththa,” Bindu protested, “there is another contest that ought to be as important…”
“What contest is that, Bindu?” Percy was puzzled.
“Why thaaththa,” Bindu asked, “what about the local government elections?”
“Ah, those elections,” Percy said, “I think people here are more interested in the World Cup although in some ways the elections should be more important to us…”
“Then thaaththa,” Bindu asked, “is that why Captain Cool asked for the elections to be postponed until the end of the World Cup?”
“That may be so,” Percy said, “but what happened was that the elections to some councils were postponed on the pretext that it would disrupt the World Cup but elections are being held for the rest of the councils…”
“But, thaaththa,” Bindu pointed out, “local government elections and the World Cup are not without similarities…”
“Why do you say that, Bindu?” Percy was curious.
“Well, for instance,” Bindu said, “our Police chief has banned posters and banners for both events…”
“And,” Percy observed, “posters and banners are being displayed in both events completely disregarding the instructions of the Police Chief…”
“And,” Bindu said, “in both the World Cup and the local government elections there are only a few strong teams but there are so many other weaker teams contesting, just to make up the numbers…”
“That is also true…” Percy agreed.

“Then, thaaththa,” Bindu pointed out, “even in the World Cup, a lot of teams are disagreeing with the decisions made against them and are appealing against them…”
“And that would be similar to parties which had their nomination lists rejected appealing against those decisions at the elections…” Percy declared.
“Then, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “in the World Cup, there is a lot of competition among players of the same to get into the final playing eleven…”

“What has that got to do with the local government elections, Bindu?” Percy wondered.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu said, “in the local elections also, most of the competition is among members of the same team fighting for the ‘manaapey’…”
“I suppose one could say that…” Percy agreed.
“Then, both in the World Cup and in the local government elections there are a lot of disgruntled people too…” Bindu suggested.
“And why is that?” Percy inquired.
“Why, thaaththa,” Bindu explained, “in the World Cup, thousands of fans couldn’t obtain tickets for the competition; in the local government elections too, thousands didn’t get the ticket from their parties to contest…”

“That is also true…” Percy conceded.
“And don’t forget,” Bindu cautioned, “the World Cup has attracted a lot of big businesses as sponsors…”
“But what has that got to do with the local government elections, Bindu?” Percy demanded.
“Why, thaaththa, all these businesses will make a huge profit regardless of who wins, and it is the same at the local council elections as well…” Bindu observed.

“One could say that too…” Percy agreed.
“Then thaaththa,” Bindu pointed out, “we saw the cities being cleaned up, roads being repaired and playgrounds being built and opened just before the World Cup…”
“And towns will be cleaned up, roads will be repaired and playgrounds will be built just before the local elections as well…” Percy declared.
“And finally thaaththa,” Bindu said, “when the World Cup is over, we will all have to return to our usual lives, while those who win celebrate and enjoy the rewards that come their way…”
“Well,” Percy asked, “what is wrong with that?”

“That is what happens at the end of all these elections as well…” Bindu said.
“But, Bindu,” Percy argued, “despite all these similarities between the World Cup and the local government elections, there is a very important difference as well…”
“And what is that difference, thaaththa?” Bindu was curious.

“Why, Bindu, in all these elections we have had recently, when the team that is expected to win loses, it is the independent media which makes bizarre allegations of match fixing…” Percy recalled.
“But what has that got to do with the World Cup?” Bindu was puzzled.
“But, Bindu,” Percy explained, “in the World Cup, when the team that is expected to win loses, it is the state media that makes all those silly allegations…”
Bindu knew he couldn’t disagree with that.