LOCAL ELECTIONS IN AJI TOWN

Aji town is a teeny-weenie hamlet populated by a little over 6000 inhabitants. It used to be part of another township until 10th January this year, when it merged with Takamatsu city with six other townships.

For the last month or so, a man stood every morning by the only trunk road that connects the hamlet to the city. Which means, all residents pass through this road on the way out to work...

Rain or shine, wind or snow, he bowed and raised his hand at every passing car or bicycle that drove pass. I wondered what he was up to...

Then, I noticed a big signboard erected beside him...

He is fighting for the only local councilor slot, competing head on with five other candidates.

For the past week, two other candidates claimed their places along the road...

One, dressed like a farmer, stood poised like an ugly Statue of Liberty...

His left hand was perpetually lifted high up, and he neither moved, waived, bowed, nor smiled...

The third candidate has some sidekicks with him...

With blood-red head bands tied up around their foreheads, they were waving and bowing profusely... to every passing vehicle...

From 8 am to 8 pm daily, these six candidates have been broadcasting their speeches, plying the narrow winding roads in the hamlet...

So much so that they are almost on the verge of destroying the peace and tranquil of the hamlet...

The five other townships that merged have comparatively larger populations and yet they have at most four candidates compared to our six...

Anyway, I am glad that the elections are conducted today...

And despite the noise pollution, I would rather stick with these rather boisterous local elections rather than to have the local councilors politically appointed as we do in Bolehland...

For if the elected local councilors play hide-and-seek, the residents get to kick-ass and throw sand into their faces...