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The Rediff Special/Ganesh Nadar

NALUMADI village is in Tuticorin district. It comprises 11 hamlets and has 5,000 voters.

Prabhakaran was president of the Nalumadi panchayat. While in power, he bought a rice mill, a van, and an old Ambassador car. Though many villagers allege he used public funds for these purchases, nothing was proved.

In the next election, Prabhakaran lost and another villager, Murugesan, was elected. During his five years, he bought a van and a tractor, and built himself an office -- all allegedly with government money.

But, in his case also, nothing was proved, though almost the entire village believes he is corrupt.

The election came again, two months ago. This time the villagers decided they would do something about their leader.

They gathered in the Batkaraiswami temple. Of course, Prabhakaran and Murugesan did not attend the meeting.

Twelve people wanted to contest. So the villagers decided to ask somebody from outside, someone to whom no one would object.

The candidate they chose was the owner of a large retail showroom in Madras, Rajaratnam. He reluctantly agreed when the villagers explained the situation to him.

Prabhakaran and Murugesan were contesting. The villagers asked them to withdraw their candidature. Both refused.

Rajaratnam arrived on the last possible day to file his nomination. Four vans and 28 cars accompanied him.

Prabhakaran had 10 villagers canvassing for him. Murugesan had five. As for Rajaratnam, he had all the rest behind him. Everywhere he went he was received with love and affection.

Murugiah, Chokkalinga and Murugesa canvassed for Rajaratnam. Murugiah kept saying, "Please vote for him, he is a good man."

Chokkalinga was poetic. "Good people must win, the rains will be plentiful, there will be excess of food grains and wealth," he chanted.

Murugesa too added his little bit. "He is a multimillionaire. He will not rob the panchayat," he said.

On polling day, Murugesan had two autorickshaws plying for him. Prabhakaran had four vans.

Within an hour, the vans returned home. The drivers said the villagers were refusing to get in for the journey to the booth.

Prabhakaran had also arranged for two vehicles from Madurai, which came with around 26 people. The belief was that they had come to cast bogus votes.

In a village where everybody knows everybody else they were spotted immediately. The police were called.

Inspector Palaniswamy and his men stationed themselves in front of the booth. That ensured no one tried any hanky-panky.

The counting of votes was in neighbouring Nazareth. The police had fortified the venue. When the results came in, Nalumadi had won against corruption, in the most one-sided contest among all villages in Tuticorin district.

Murugesan got 127 votes and Prabhakaran 437. They both lost their deposits.

Rajaratnam won with 1,756 votes.

Nalumadi is a model village today. The streetlights work, there is running water, the roads are being repaired, and all village officials have been warned not to take bribes.

From this village we learn it is not impossible to beat corruption. All we need is the will to vote for good people.

Illustration: Lynette Menezes

The Rediff Specials