A week back or so, Dr Manmohan Singh, our learned PM, opined that independent candidates actually cut down the chances of the rightful party (or candidate) to come in power by cutting into the vote share. According to him, even if such a candidate (independent) wins it doesn’t serve the purpose in the larger perspective to represent public opinion. This means that the winning independent candidate(s) will anyway be sitting on the opposition (without voice to be heard) lest he or she (or they) joins a coalition that forms the government. I feel, by commenting so, Dr Manmohan Singh has ashamed us all considering high profile position in the government and more so in our democracy. Now, my respect for him has suffered a dent. I hope I am right in understanding PM’s rhetoric in this subject, but I will leave room for Congress Party spokespersons to correct my understanding of Mr PM’s objective of saying so.
Yet, when I see people on the other side of the voting system for whom we vote say that we need to come into the system if we really want to better it, I find Mr PM’s opinion as a contradictory one. Now, if I need to enter the system I am asked to have a full time commitment and not fight election by taking sabbatical. Also, we need to join parties that are nationalist in approach (representation) and not just emerge as independents in the ocean of candidatures. So, whom shall I vote for? For a party (or a candidate) who rubbishes the idea of this very democratic process, which evokes a feeling to be counted amongst others ------ OR ------ the ones, who might win but would not be the voice they are meant to be in the crowd of 545?
The question remains… as after the musical chair of seat sharing in various states, I stand clueless which party represents whose ideology and whom I will be voting for as the next Prime Minister? Nothing compares to India’s Democracy and its crazy idiosyncrasies intertwined within to put our life into total… well, it’s anyone’s guess! After all, we are going to make a choice. Whether it turns out for India’s larger benefit or not, would be seen in the next four years; fifth year, obviously, going to be a better one than the previous four, to pave path for another four years, I reckon. I raise a toast to this entire process… will you join me?
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3 comments:
This utterly indicates your lack of understanding about Indian polity. India has a democratic set up, where every individual has right to participate in governance through voting and through contesting in elections. The Constitution establishes representative democracy by ensuring universal adult suffrage and free and fair periodic elections.
There’s a multi-party system, where people contest elections from a party, with which their ideology match.
An independent candidate in democracy can only succeed if he matches his objective with that of any political party or else he’ll have no say in the governance.
In the today’s scenario, when regional parties are playing active role by placing regional issues in front of people, they are succeeding in fracturing the mandate.
Two decades back, there were no alliances like NDA and UPA. But in the current scenario, regional leaders are hacking up the national issues with that of regional (Non existing issues like—separate state, more reservations, division on communal and caste lines, etc)
Therefore, in such circumstances, there is a serious need to make the people of India aware about the national interests. And vote for a national party or for a regional party which is in alliance with a national party with some objective.
The next government at Center has got momentous task ahead. They have to deliver a lot. And in that a fractured mandate will only impede its direction.
my point was that there was no reason for discriminating an independent candidate because that is according to our constitution; at least they are fighting for Lok Sabha and not expect to be just a nominated person from Rajya Sabha entering into Lok Sabha. After all, it is "people" who form a system and any "sane" voice in the opposition within a system is always welcome. And, who becomes a strong force in a day or two in our Political system? so why fear them anyway?
I second my thoughts with Sanjeev.I truly respect Mr. Prime minister,but these kind of statements coming from such a learned person like him is not welcomed.More over out of these, independent candidates,who knows who will take care of much awaited clean iness of the system which in a way is good for the society & our future.
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