38. Shivayya’s candidates win

CHAPTER 38

Shivayya’s candidates win

Elections start. Shivayya’s men win with 80% votes. The candidates come to Shivayya’s house.

Shivayya said, “We will walk on the Gandhi marg. We will put our life to serve the people. If we make any mistake, the people can make us resign.”

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Manohar and Shivaram were sitting in CM’s office.

CM said, “Who is this Shivayya? Is it that man who has started that Grameena Organization? We did not get correct information from the intelligence. And you people, who are the jilla ministers also, did not tell me anything about him. Because of that, today 80% of the votes have gone to their candidates. He has the control over 2 jillas.”

Manohar and Shivaram remained silent.

CM said, “Delhi high command is very much surprised. That fellow has no party. He has just elected some independent candidates and made them win. Look at his capacity. Party President has asked me to contact Shivayya and get him to join our party.”

Manohar and Shivaram were shocked.

Manohar said, “I have served the party for 25 years. I am the one who strengthened the party. You became the CM with my support. Do you think that I will keep quiet if you try to pull that fellow into the party just because he has won in the Panchayat election?”

CM said, “This is politics. The party moves and embraces towards the person who wins. You should be more careful.”

Manohar thought, “We will survive only if we finish that Shivayya.”

Shivaram thought, “If he dies, I can survive.”

They shook their heads looking at each and left.

Manohar said, “You know what our next action is?”

Shivaram said, “Only one action. That Shivayya has to die.”

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The public carry the barber who won in the election in a precession in front of Naga’s house. Naga was wild. “The whole jilla was shivering on seeing us. Now that Shivayya has changed everything.”

He took a flower vase and threw it on the big mirror angrily. It smashed into pieces. “He should not live anymore. He has lived so long because we gave him the chance to live.”

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Shivaram tightened his hands. He had made his brother Venkatraidu get a ticket. Shivayya had made a blacksmith named Krishnappa stand against him. This blacksmith had won in the election. It was a great disgrace for Shivaram.

Shivaram said, “I will not consider that Shivayya as my sister’s son or my daughter’s husband.”

Venkatraidu was moving here and there like a lion in a cage. “Do what ever you want to do. But I want another by-election here. Cut off that blacksmith’s head.”

He looked at Shivaram him seriously. He approached him.

“In the next by-elections I will again be the candidate. This time I know how to win.”

Shivaram became serious. “As long as Shivayya was alive, we cannot win. People have turned towards him.”

Venkatraidu said, “There is only one formula to win. Krishnappa has to go up for by-election to take place. If I have to win, Shivayya has to go up. I will bring by-election and you make me win.”

Shivaram nodded.