'... what do you think of that for a campaign tagline?' I asked my associate as I looked at the runway that night. The tarmac glowed in a faint yellow from the amber lights from the airstairs.

'A better tomorrow is fine.. but a better tonight?'

'How do I look?' I shot one at him. He leaned back, took a good look and sad, 'you look harried.'

'And why so?'

'You and the mistr...'

'Hold it,' I cut him off. 'Only business.'

'You were busy running from one campaign ground to another and didn't get much sleep last night?' - An acceptable version of the events of the past day.

'Now imagine the plight of all those who will vote for us. Should they be harried or happy?'

'Happy. But we are politicians. We don't care about such things, do we?'

Now this was one question that I always felt was inappropriate, but legitimate. And I had to take it like no one else had until then.

'I am going to give them back their nights.'

'How?'

By then the flight had taken off, our trays were up, belts on and we were careening. That afforded us a good view of the city below and it gleamed in all glory. 'Imagine, if there were no lights?'

My associate baulked at this. 'Are you going to cut off power or what?'

'Only those going to the light bulbs and tubes.' I snapped. 'I am not a fool. I know people need the fans and air-conditioners to sleep. If lights are turned off though, won't people fall asleep automatically?'

'That is ridiculuous. How would you know which lines are for lights and which aren't?'

'We will re-lay it all for them under the People's Own Wiring and Electricity Rectification or POWER.'

'But there isn't such a scheme.'

'We will have one.'

'It sounds stupid.'

'A stupid acronym is cooler than a meaningful abbreviation.'

 'Assume we take all the lights out. What of airports? Will that not cause half a day's flights to be cancelled?'

'True. That will only make it safer.'

'Street lights?'

'Fewer road accidents.'

'Hospitals?'

'Hospitals, we can make an allowance. We could give doctors flashlights.'

'And of corporate houses that work twenty-four hours?' 

'They too shall go dark. Many mothers and spouses will be relieved.'

'So you will shut the whole state down at night. For what?'

'So people can claim the night for what it is meant for - sleeping.'

'And a whole lot of..'

'Hush!' I cut him off once again. We were on an aircraft and the last thing I wanted was for a party man to say something inappropriate that would make us lose ground, even if we were up in the air.

'And you expect people to vote for you?' 

'Won't they? After all, they can sleep,' I said. 

'Come on! This is ridiculous. In a democracy, you don't think of what's good for people. You do things and make people believe it is in their interest. You are going to be their chief minister, not their father. Don't be silly. I can't tell you from a lunatic.' 

'And what do you suppose I do? Renege on my poll promise?' I said, taken aback at being called a lunatic. 'Give me a way to keep my promise and I will take it.'

'Tax!'

'What?'

'Introduce a power consumption tax for those that consume power beyond a certain threshold. Make sure it hits only the salaried middle class. Tax the rich, but give them sops to make up for it. And most importantly, give away free mats, pillows and blankets to the poor. never give them electricity though.'

'And tell them, the night is yours. Sleep well for a better tomorrow.'

We arrived at the media briefing on my unprecedented poll promise. Before I announced his idea as mine, I dumped him in full view for his regressive idea to shut the state down. I also announced that the one I prevented him from talking about would replace him. After all, I wanted to lead the way with a better tonight for a better tomorrow.