I refused to VOTE!!

Yes, I refused to vote this general election. But that doesn't mean I stayed at home and enjoyed the holiday declared by the government so that people can exercise their electoral right. I went to the polling booth around 11 am but instead of casting my vote I declined to do so. I guess most of the people don't know about the section 49O of 1961 act of election law given in the statue. This section states that a voter after entering his/her name in the electoral role (Form 17A) can opt not to vote.

But why would anybody want to waste their vote. Well, I was frustrated with current political fraternity of this country. I am fed up with the petty politics being played by the so called National Leaders, who could have done a great job had they tried to use their energies and intelligence in the welfare of the country. Then we would have realized the dreams for our fore fathers of a free nations. For we are still enslaved by the poverty, illiteracy and corruption.

Nowadays every politician dreams about becoming PM of this country because they want rule this country not govern. But they have forgotten that after every 5 years its the common man who decides their fate. I also decided to vote sensibly this time. That's why I tried to know more about the candidates running from my constituency. I went through the manifestos of various parties, but none impressed me. Because these parties have been in power (on n off) for long time and still haven't helped in country's progress. Therefore, I decided to check out independent candidates. I went through their affidavits to know about these candidates. But to my disdain most of these candidates had their education only till secondary and higher secondary. Now how could such a person work towards issues of national interest or what could be their perceptions of these issues. I might sound prejudiced towards them but I can't help it. That's why I decided not to vote any candidate this time.

There is another school of thought that believes its no good wasting your vote in such a way, after all you get a chance to vote in 5 years. They advocate that one should vote keeping parties and their star performers/leaders in mind after all they only have a say in running the government. But this notion itself is against the spirit of Democracy. Because by this way we are encouraging autocracy with in that party, which will ultimately will be reflected in the governance. Instead there should be more freedom and free flow of ideas and more debates on issues within a party which would yield in good governance. That is why we should vote for individual candidates and we should vote them keeping their merits in mind.

Some people also told me that instead of wasting my vote I should have voted for a party which looks to be most competent to form a stable government at the Center for 5 years. But this would mean asking to opt between the devil and the deep sea. In a true democratic establishment such a situation cannot and shall not happen. I believe keeping this mind the section 49-O was introduced in the election statue way back in 1961. But this is not sufficient, as more and more people becoming disgruntled with the current political fraternity there is a dire need of another round of electoral reforms. Firstly, we should give meanings to 49-O clause. Votes caste under this clause should be considered while deciding the winner. Also, 49-O in its current form violates the secrecy of ballot and hence there should be a button for the None of The Above Candidates available (NOTA) in the EVMs.

These are the few small steps that should be taken immediately to reinvigorate the democracy and will attract people to participate in the electoral process. As a franchisee of this system it is our utmost duty that we should participate enthusiastically in the elections.