- As you are aware, and it is worth repeating, that the democratic form of governance is nothing but for the people, by the people, and of the people. We, the people, reserve the right and choice to elect our representatives in the form of elections sending them to the seat of power to decide our as well as the nation’s fortunes. It could be panchayat elections, corporation/municipal elections, state assembly elections, Rajya Sabha elections, and the Lok Sabha elections. In every form of elections conducted in a democratic form of governance, the people are the real protagonists who are bestowed with the power to send the elected representatives to formulate policies for the welfare and betterment of our livelihood.
PC: The Indian Express
- We Indians must thank our constituent assembly forefathers for showing such wisdom, foresight, and visionary understanding in introducing the well-rounded Constitution that is supreme to everything, including democratically elected governments. Yes, the mother of all elections is underway in the country with the first of the seven phases already behind us. The Election Commission of India (ECI) must be credited for initiating several revolutionary measures over the last few decades to ensure the process of elections is not only fair and peaceful but also striving to quell any doubts about the integrity of the system itself. Make no mistake, due credit should accrue to the ECI for conducting the humongous election process fairly, peacefully, and diligently.
- Note that the process of electioneering, especially the national-level parliamentary polls, in its entirety commences years in advance since the preparations for the biggest event demand absolute attention, meticulousness, and coordination between so many administrative agencies. One of the tasks of the ECI is also to create awareness among the electorate to come out and exercise their franchise in large numbers. Right from the enrolment of voters to preparing the electoral rolls/lists to deploying officials to seamlessly carry out the polling is a mammoth process demanding great diligence from the Election Commission. The nation has witnessed how time and again the ECI delivers with such admirable precision despite mounting challenges.
PC: The Wire
- Mind you, thousands of crores are spent in rolling out the entire process of conducting Lok Sabha polls. The whole logistical machinery involved in the process of conducting the polls is unimaginable, including the taxpayer’s money spent on the exercise. The least we as citizens could do to strengthen the democratic process is to actively participate in exercising our franchise. Unfortunately, there is an increasing trend to witness hordes of people skip the process of choosing our representatives when D-Day arrives. The low voter turnout percentage is simply unacceptable since election day is declared a holiday allowing all of us to cast our votes. There’s no reason why we should not come out in large numbers to vote.
- Sadly, widespread cynicism towards the entire political class rules the roost. That’s understandable. Rather than complain about the entire system being rotten, what stops us from showing who the real masters in a democracy are? We still have six phases of elections left. Let’s vow to show we are the real masters with the power to choose representatives by voting in great numbers. Let’s all walk the talk unlike a few of our political leaders. Let us be the change, here.
