When can my vote be fair?

I say that the value of every vote should be weighted and not just dumped after polling. The percentage of votes of the defeated candidate should also be considered and their agendas inculcated during the next five years of governance. Due weightage should be given for enlisting his promises when the next government assume office.

Factors during elections

Election time invokes familiar questions on how really this exercise of democracy works. On the official level and on ground zero, all players – the parties, candidates and the officiating Election Commission – display all the essential poll etiquette that are needed from them. There will be noises if something goes off-track. The prelude before the polls like Model Code of Conduct, Manifesto declarations, bringing out candidate’s list, the glamor elements...etc are all part of conventional shows once the curtain on election season lifts up for the public to witness.

There are many factors on how a voter votes and the candidate knows best the intricacies and groundwork essential to get votes. In India there are few minority who votes based on the candidates’ acumen and the party promises. Every vote is based on the localized scenario and some other factors we will discover here. I have deducted some starkly true trends that has always been our talking points.

Money

This is deeply rooted now in our system and it reasserts itself during every ‘dance of democracy’. A friend of mine was telling me that for four-and-a-half years after a government is elected, the state and the constituency remain dry, “very dry”. “There seems no money anywhere, everywhere you go people say these are hard times, no money, no money and no money is the usual chorus.” Where do all the money for development go? Why do we not see development in front of our eyes?

In some departments the whole years’ stock are over even before the fiscal year ends; there are massive sackings and replacements from the previous government appointments. The states by default blame the centre for all the woes. The ministers say, “financial outlook is is very gloomy this year because of no funds and the previous government’s mishandling of money.

We have to survive somehow”. There are no tangible signs of infrastructure development in many cases. Where have all the money gone. Every season we hear of new scheme being announced by the central governments but we see no visibility of those funds trickling into the state being translated into tangible development works. You have to literally worship an MLA or the Minister to get something done.

The volcanic burst

Few months before elections are due a voter witnesses a volcanic burst of money emanating from candidates. Finally money is being smoked out after almost 5 dry years. Money politics takes the centre stage. Votes are being bought and the great election shopping becomes hectic with many ‘hard choices’ for both the customer and the shopkeeper. Sales galore like never before—all marketing strategies are worked out to get the best buy. Money never seemed so liquid days before elections. Suddenly you have the local party workers and agents spring into action wooing and luring hungry voters. Money factor becomes irresistible and people succumb before its power. It becomes a huge collection for some who has never touched a 500-rupee note during the last five years. Parties will enter the ring hurling accusations and counter accusations but the ‘officials’ will only go on according to “official line and length”.

It is really sad and we have to admit that we voters sow the seeds of corruption during electioneering. Corruption starts when voters accept money for votes. The moment a person or a community, or a clan or a village or a group takes something for votes, cancer disease starts to creep in that would grow malignantly over the years. There lies this cancer of democracy. And this is the saddest part. The unabashed talk of money circulation with the helpless EC is a common election folklore. Even before a vote is voted the development for the next five years are put into ransom – a ransom, that if you paint it on a wall would actually reflect like a mass murder.

This justifies why there are ‘no money’ never in a state. But if you observe the assets of elected representatives now and five years then, (go ask RTI validates your ask) you will see that this young politician has now “some personal development” like a grand new building, plot or car and other assets. Not everyone becomes rich though—because some will have to shell out everything during elections, some are neutralised to square one and some even below that.

This is one main reason why the powerful and the rich with their cronies become rich, richer; the poor, poorer; the helpless more pathetic and the voiceless more numb.

Muscle power and community angle

This is a well-known phenomenon during elections in India. Powerful local satraps and their hold on voter dynamics play a crucial part of India’s democratic process. A voter has sometimes no choice but to go with the flock because he will be punished. The odd opposers are at the receiving end of the muscle power. I have seen people perennially maimed for life because he dared to vote against the dominant folks. This brings us to question: are we still miles to go before we accept dissent. Many talented people with great ideas for growth have been blown away by the tide before they could bloom just because he was from the ‘wrong’ community, village or family. In a country that still has a strong class, caste and faith quotient, muscle power and dynasty power will remain every strong.

Misuse of official power:

This is a condemnable trend. A voter recalls: “voting went on peacefully till 4pm but it was abruptly called off because of ‘official orders’ from the district magistrate”. The ‘official’ reason was that were complaints of ‘massive rigging’ which he never actually saw. Re-polling was ordered on another ’secure’ polling station and the real rigging was done by the rival party.” This happens when the officials and candidates ‘tie up’. This is one big crime that needs to be checked and condemned. Many genuine candidates with winning total have lost because of the official misuse of power.

The same old thing

Election folklore galore in every parts of the country and sometimes some feats and fights are unbelievably more truer than fiction. It is easy to diagnose these ills; it is easy to talk taking names on corruption and social degeneration. There are continuous cycles of debate, movements, projects, campaigns, newspapers and other forums. But these trends will remain unless we ourselves reform and understand the constructive sides of an election process. A set of people should re-start with renewed strength on the task of development and growth.

As in many cases, the votes are already rigged even before a vote is cast because of money and fear. When will a voter vote and come out thinking with positive optimism saying, “I hope he repairs the road; I hope he brings out innovative way of social security etc”. Voting with hope should supercede voting with a full stomach or votes being rigged of being pushed to vote.

New ideas

I say that the value of every votes should be weighted and not just dumped after polling. The percentage of votes of the defeated candidate should also be taken into considered and their agendas inculcated during the next five years of governance. Due weightage should be given for enlisting his promises when the next government assume office. The defeated candidate should also be given leadership roles in development during the next five years and due importance according to his percentage of received votes. This is what I call when my vote can be really fair and heard. The task and responsibility of development does not just belong to the victorious ruling party and candidate only. The ‘others’ should not be made to stay idle and deprived during the next five long years.

Election would be an easy exercise if the voted MLAs, MPs and Ministers seek a mandate every single year through some minimum ‘yes’ or ‘no’ voting mechanism. The option of recalling an elected representative is important and for this reason, the legislator should submit to the people ‘work done’ progress report to his constituency people depending on his work portfolio.

Evolving reforms are essential and if voices of reforms are drowned in the din of voices, this century would woefully lack an important ingredient of the 20th century. This century has bigger challenges and thus the need of evolved ideas and reforms. It already does not match up with the historic life-changing reforms and legislations of the 20th century.

People and leaders with ideas and reformist mindset can only push us forward in every fields: political, science, medicine, infrastructure, health, education and social security.

An elected representative needs to be reminded that he is just a ‘people’s servant’, that he is just a facilitator because he was voted with hopes of a single voter. He needs to be shaken up and reminded that he was voted to ‘minister’ the people. People should get involved in the development roadmap.

This is what I call a scenario when my vote would be fair. Do we lack voices in this era? I think never before in history we felt a dire need of reformist voices than that are needed now. Have we become exhausted from textbooks and thesis of the last century? Do we sit and relax thinking that these thinkers and reformers have done enough for these challenging times also? Has it become a trend where innovative and new ideas as just another rehashing of materials from the earlier thinkers. They should not be.

21st century needs more practical reforms and voices. Newly evolved both contextual and thematic principles need to be worked out not just by political scientists and academics but also by people that hold power of governance. Big revolutionary ideas should not be wasted off after some heated thought-provoking discussions in a classroom, seminars and private chat sessions. They should be just designated as “utopian chats” and it should reach legislation floor.

If a Bill like the Women’s Reservation Bill takes a long time to get passed, there should be ‘other ways’ made available to get progressive bills passed without delay. Revolutionary ideas and thoughts are not clichéd and who ignores constructive talks and goes with ‘as it is’ or ‘nothing will happen’ attitude is directly playing an obstructive role in silencing some rare extinct voices.