Representational image.

A billion Indians, young and old, will begin to vote from the 19th of April. The large democratic exercise will continue till the first week of June. In the same month a new dispensation will takeover the reins of authority. It will begin work on realising the pledges it was expected to make while campaigning in the coming weeks. But, a huge one at that, voters and leaders have to deal with their unavoidable enemy — the weather. The bulk of India sizzles in June. And the capital city boils.

In the April-June period various parts of the country could record 10 to 20 heat wave days compared to the normal four to eight days, Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, director-general of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), told a virtual news conference. The extreme weather was naturally bound to impact the Indian parliamentary election. Voters will be exposed to the heat waves and will need to take precautions according to the various advisories already issued, said Kiren Rijiju, India’s minister for earth sciences.

“During the election in India, people will come out for election rallies, meetings...There will be heavy activity all across the country,” Rijiju said. The weather is already beginning to take its unsparing toll on candidates. They are talking about ways to tackle the soaring mercury. Mind you, they are natives of the province. One can imagine the state of those who will be merely visiting the constituency for the election.

The well-known Hooghly Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal is witnessing a clash between two women celebrity candidates, with  one making bizarre poll promises and wacky observations on the nature of the constituency. The other has been countering them by mocking them with satire-soaked remarks, the IANS reported.

In the hugely watched electoral battle, the limelight is on Trinamool Congress candidate Rachana Banerjee, the anchor of the popular Bengali reality show ‘Didi No 1,’ and BJP’s Locket Chatterjee, a film-star of yesteryear and also the sitting Member of Parliament from the constituency. Interacting with the media persons in the midst of her campaign, Banerjee said: “I am drinking coconut water on a regular basis. I have been trying to concentrate mainly on a boiled and light diet. I will concentrate on self-care after two months when the elections are over.” On Banerjee’s ways to beat the heat during campaigning, Locket Chatterjee said, “I am not even bothered about ‘maintaining’ myself. Let anyone consume coconut water or milk what she desires. I am satisfied with puffed or fermented rice.”

Campaigners have been complaining about the terrible heat. The weather pattern will also affect agricultural production and the government’s efforts to bring down food inflation. A heat wave for the third year in a row could dent production of wheat, rapeseed and chickpeas, and also lift power demand above supply during the summer season.

In April, the crucial month for winter-sown crops coming to maturity, above normal maximum temperatures are likely across most parts of the country. Most of the wheat harvested during this period is in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, while in northern states the crop is in the grain formation stage and the harvesting comes later. Coming back to the election issue. Three things come to the mind. First, why wasn’t the weather considered when finalizing the date of the polls? Secondly, the officials should have remembered that some of the very important contestants are old and may not be able to take on the weather. Lastly, extreme heat was bound to hit in a big way those who will come out to vote. In short, turnout will suffer.

Well, let’s hope the weather doesn’t succeed in its villainy, let’s hope it doesn’t force people to stay indoors for too long and let’s hope the path to Parliament remains unblemished.