Voting: A right or a forced responsibility?
Being a student of political science and a social worker, I wonder what does voting mean to me and my compatriots. After reflecting over the process of juggling with thoughts while voting every year since the age of eighteen, I came across certain issues that need necessary mending in order to cast my vote for the coming Mumbai Municipal Elections on the 16th February.
Mumbai Municipal Election: issues of a Mumbaikar:
Beyond solid waste management and storm drains there are numerous issues which a voter faces in his day-to-day life:
Ø Illegal hoardings, parking on roads, uprooted paver-blocks covering the drains
Ø Unnecessary honking by vehicles, violation of pedestrians’ right, driving over the footpaths to avoid signals.
Ø Use of sky-walks for other purposes like illegal vending, anti-social activities (e.g. eve-teasing)
Ø The consistent and unnecessary digging of roads to put up hoardings, pandal structures right in the middle of crossroads/road junctions (e.g. ganeshotsav pandals, garba pandals for DJs, 31st December programmes, etc.)
Ø Problem of stray dogs, mice (climbing up my window-pane on the first floor!)
Ø Open defecation near railway tracks.
Ø Arbitrary refusal by auto-rickshaw drivers for availing transportation during peak hours.
Ø Illegal market places, creating congestion on road. (The other side of this issue is non-availability of land to declare a hawker zone to provide people a market place!)
The above points may seem smoothened by reiteration…but these issues are very much a bone of contention between the facilities provided by the MCGM and the cost-effective but illegal “functioning” of the parallel system. For instance, I buy vegetables on my way home from the station in a market which is near the station but not a legal market zone! I save time, energy and money…whereas the mercenary officials of MCGM collect their “hafta” from the vendors as a convenience, later feigning to confiscate the same vending stalls!
It is interesting to note that the MCGM does not have the will to work even though it has the authority and time; and the people do not have the time and energy to complain against such issues in the race to earn their daily bread and butter!
Yet, the whole endeavor of voting at the elections is a testimony of the people’s sovereignty and might, that make the political parties bow down once in five years to gain confidence or retain the same!
Voting – selection or elimination process? A right or a forced responsibility?
The mode of political representation is like walking a tight rope! As a voter, it is always difficult to express whether to choose a candidate or end up choosing one, after eliminating the rest. Many say, the political ideology, the rank and file of the political party, the discipline and issues raised by the party help in deciding the political representative. However, the candidates nominated by these parties for contesting elections have their personal agendas as well. How can we forget defections and coalitions are the flavour of local, regional and national politics! The public mandate must weigh the trustworthiness of the candidate more stringently, because often the personal favouritism, boot-licking, party whip and order of the high command melt down the efficacy of the candidate. Hence, the choice should be such that public representative can standby the people and not oscillate according to the whims and fancies of the political swings. Voting is just a step. Conscious voting adds substance to the activity.
Voting is a right. Let us not turn it into a forced responsibility! We claim our rights by effectuating on them and not by hibernating on them. (It’s a Virtue Of Thought Effect!).
Every single vote should make sense to bring out a sensible outcome. How will it be done? Voting should be an outcome of sound reflection, not deviated by superficial issues, parochial interests or even vengeance! It is a collective act of choosing a representative for collective benefits, though exercised individually. What matter most are the issues that are close to the heart of the people at large and not sectional, fragmented issues that divide the mandate. A citizens’ charter is highly influential to check the reliability of the promises that the contesting candidates put forth in their manifestos. It is essential to come together, voice our common interests and set them as a standard parameter on which the candidate must face the litmus test.
People are not apolitical; they have become vehement due to the obscure political dogmas. With the MCGM elections declared, the time is ripe to take a step forward. To make impact through the “VOTE”! Some small steps that can help us take a conscious decision:
v Comparison of current and previous election manifestos of all political candidates. (shows approach towards issues – dynamic or static)
v The conduct and activities of these candidates since the last elections (whether developmental or lax)
v The funding received by these candidates and their source or income – where does it come from and how it is utilized (shows transparency in functioning and ethical practices)
v Accessibility of the candidate to the public during his tenure. (shows public-friendly nature)
v Events attended or sponsored by the candidate during his tenure. (reflects his outlook towards those issues)
v Issues traced, handled and resolved during tenure. (shows the prioritizing of issues and style of functioning)
Hence, the above mentioned criteria will help us judge the candidate and make our vote more influential.
In order to effectuate the process, it is worth mentioning the “Meet your candidate” event, organized by AGNI (Action for Good Governance and Networking in
Let us resolve to make our VOTE felt by taking a conscious decision after thorough reflection. Join various discussion forums, make your presence felt at the “Meet Your Candidate” event and use social networking (be it through internet, college groups or even your local train groups!) to keep track of the candidates.
Identity of a voter – is he sovereign or conditioned (role of press, political parties and family norms).
It is often seen that the voter is just a number for the political parties, to turn them into majority and reign. The psyche of a political party revolves around the numerical “majority” politics, which is not destabilized even by a significant dissenting minority.
The voter needs a make-over in this sense. The power of recall can prove a threat to this unperturbed feel-good factor! The citizens who vote the majority to power can utilize this weapon by consistently reflecting over their activities and political ventures! This growing political consciousness among the voters will bring down the edifice of fallacies that glosses over – ‘a voter is non-existent!’ attitude – after the candidates win the elections.
A person is qualified as an adult and a voter at the age of 18 years. He/She has the right to make his/her own informed decision as to whom to vote and why. Also, it is a confidential matter. Hence, the influence of family members affiliating to a particular ideology and political party may blind-fold the sense of conscience. Yet, it can be said that this indoctrination can be subdued if replaced by factual analysis. A comparative study put forth in front of the people may help; needless to say this is to curb the bandwagon effect.
The role of media plays a major influential role during elections. It is a two-way communication: the editorials and the letters to the editor both are oozing with juicy election propaganda. The pros and cons are seldom put together in one article. Hence, choosing cautiously what one reads and how it is to be interpreted is a debatable matter. The panelists on the television cannot be the decision-makers who yell and shout pretending to stand firm on their views; which post-elections often fade out!
Therefore, it is only the wearer who knows where the shoe pinches! Voters can judge candidates in the light of the problems they face!
