The Jungle Elections

‎It was the election season in the Democratic Republic of the Jungle. The atmosphere was unusually busy, as two rival groups, the foxes and the monkeys, strived to sway the polls in their favour. The Donkey, who was the most honest and patriotic of all the animals, was the Chief Election Commissioner. He ensured that the elections would be free and fair, and there would be no rigging. The foxes turned modest overnight and began visiting every burrow and nest to woo the animals and birds to vote in their favor. On the bank of a lake, the  foxes held a grand rally where all the animals were present. Hippos, crocodiles, tortoises, and frogs were listening with their necks out of water. The alligators and the snails were crawling out of the lake to listen the speech. The foxes' motto was "Make Jungle Great Again". They promised costlier food, safer conditions for animals active at night, and remarkable advances in anti-education reforms. They further vowed to make healthcare so cheap that animals would merely need to sell their shelters to treat a stomach ache. While addressing sheep and donkeys and other animals of the lake, the foxes declared that they had already become vegetarian. The sheep and donkeys began to shout with joy. ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎The monkeys were equally motivated and experienced in convincing the animals. They addressed the animals while hanging on the branches of trees. Sloths, birds, elephants stripping the bark of trees, giraffes browsing, and deer were all paying full attention to the monkeys' speech. In response to the foxes, they too made a series of impressive promises, including the monkey king would dance before all the animals every weekend and that they would stop mimicry and begin to live serious lives. They further vowed that they would make decisions after careful thinking rather than impulsive ones. Their motto was "Entertainment For All". They promised that every evening the jungle would host grand shows so that no animal would ever feel bored again. They also promised to offer daily feasts by providing free fruits and honey to all the animals for breakfast. They emphasized with great seriousness that they would work hard to make the lives of the animals comfortable, and proposed employment reforms, ensuring that every animal would have an equal opportunity to participate in the entertainment shows. ‎ ‎The Jungle’s state broadcaster, Voice of Truth, began spreading the latest sensational news of the foxes’ and the monkeys’ election campaigns. The parrots flew across the Jungle, eagerly repeating every promise made by both parties in the simplest possible terms. They assured the animals that after the elections the Jungle would be like a paradise where the fountains of honey and rivers of milk would flow. They reported that the foxes had promised remarkable development if elected, and praised them for reminding the Jungle how splendid the lives of their ancestors had once been, but clarified that monkeys were the best candidates for fun-loving animals. Cows were happy, distributing their milk among the animals in the hope of a bright future, while some kind animals such as snakes, wolves and crocodiles praised "vegetarian" policy of the foxes. A donkey was teaching a herd of hyenas how “costlier food” would boost the economy of the Jungle. An injured squirrel sat happily in her nest, telling her young that they would just have to sell their home for her treatment under the new reforms promised by the foxes. ‎ ‎ ‎The very next day was voting day in the Jungle, and all the animals stood in long lines, eager to vote for their favourite candidate. The horses were carrying old and weak animals to the polling stations. The rivals continued their work even on election day, carefully arranging the lines so that discipline appeared to be maintained. The foxes were distributing grapes and the monkeys were showering bananas to convince the animals of their promises. At some places, lynching of jackals at the hands of sheep was observed because they were campaigning for monkeys. On the other hand, while grazing, the buffaloes were praising both foxes and monkeys as they were committed to the progress of the jungle. It was a day of great enthusiasm, valour, and hope. The results were declared in the evening and the Lion had won the election with a sweeping majority.

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