We are amidst challenging times; the second wave of the ongoing pandemic is proving to be lethal to the extent that the casualties now also include newborn babies and the youth (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1110522/india-number-of-coronavirus-cases-by-age-group/), the age groups which were the least vulnerable in the first wave. In this extraordinary situation, when the deaths surge and uncertainty surround every aspect of our lives, the uncertainty surrounding the governance of the states has taken a new turn. Elections need to be conducted; do they need to be conducted? What choice do we have, exercising our democratic rights or saving our lives? 

The voting has ended in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, while the voting is in the final phases for West Bengal. The cases also have started picking up since the campaign trails started making ripples through these states and here we are day after day reaching new highs on daily reporting of COVID cases. Election campaigns form a major part of the election process in which the candidates go physically and associate themselves with their potential voters; luring them with all the bounties they have to offer if elected to the said seat in consideration. With Bengal showing the epitome of how these election campaigns are proving to be "super spreader" events (https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/covid-19-cases-spike-in-poll-bound-west-bengal/article34095578.ece) the discussions now need to be centered over the fact that how do we tackle the fact that with the current rise in cases and increase in the lethal capacities of the virus mutating at alarming rates, we are being faced with the choice choosing between our lives or the governance structures, democracy and the other peripherals of the human life. 

The election campaigns, in their current form and capacity, are a major part of the election process as the country still does not boast of the high technological solutions which will allow every nook and corner to have such extraordinary digital access that each person shall have access to the information regarding their respective and potential political choices, opting for such measures can considerably skew the election process in favor of the political parties which are financially more affluent than others. Hence, the current election campaigns are justified in the sense that they comply with the Representation of people act. 1951 (https://legislative.gov.in/sites/default/files/04_representation%20of%20the%20people%20act%2C%201951.pdf) but, they are truly proving to be in opposition of the people's right to life. No major political party can be spared in taking the blame for the super spreader events being organized day in and day out where people gather in large numbers and physical distancing goes for a toss. The election commission with its limited rule enforcement has brought the hours of campaigning to a minimum but does not look to any alternatives like that of converging of the phases of the polls so as to slash out the remaining campaign trails. 

What remains a disturbing reality that the Indian political diaspora even in these extraordinary times remains divided, setting a lethal trend. The Centre faces the danger of being called a fascist state if it urges for shunning of elections and the continuation of campaign trails lead to rising in cases which lead to mismanagement allegations, while states if elections are shunned remain in the danger of growing rigid with political power and the continuation of campaign trails has led to allegations of lessened interest in current governance and more in re-election prospects. 

The future holds forth a dangerous upsurge trend and death lingers on the heads of thousands of more people. But how much can people be left out of the responsibilities; if the people refuse to gather for rallies would these super spreader events be successes? As questions linger and the second wave surges, democracy wins, but life fails.