Election

Prafulla Kumar Mohanty

Election is a superior process of choosing a candidate to serve people than selection or nomination by an authority, for, people’s choice is the most acceptable choice in democracy. Candidates campaign their ideology, mostly party line and promise to improve the condition of life in a constituency. Candidates are supposedly men and women of integrity, honesty and proven ability to accomplish life- friendly things for people. They are open minded visionaries and persons of commitment. When India became politically independent in 1947 the then leaders of the freedom movement accepted democracy as the most suitable form of government for the Indians. The model followed was the Westminister one with slight modification. The constitution of India’s Democratic Polity was adapted in 1950 and the elections for the states and the central government were held in 1952.

Election is a democratic festival. For a month or a few weeks before the date of the election candidates move from village to village , city to city, meet people, address rallies and do door to door campaigning upto the last moment. Canvassing, motivating, convincing, explaining the ideals of their party and their individual commitment to solving certain area- specific problems to the voters they seek their votes. Volunteers or paid party workers distribute voter slips to voters tutoring them on the symbol and how to cast their vote inside the booth. In course of time the ballot paper has changed into the Electronic Voting Machine as the level of education and awareness of the voters manifested positive changes. The voters have increased in number, technology has changed the tone and tenor of campaigning. The media has made the elections loud , controversial and at times larger than life.

But election is no more a democratic festival. It is a veritable war. The moment the election dates are announced the people of the state are divided by their party loyalties. Of course, the middle class which is  almost indifferent to the election process prefers to do fence sitting till the last moment. And quite a sizable percentage of this class never bothers to take the trouble of going to the polling booths to cast their votes. They enjoy the election day as a holiday. But the unemployed youth finds some excitement and for money and free liquor give their vociferous energies to campaigning for their parties. But the grassroot members of political parties mostly do the legwork. Money flows freely despite the rules enforced by the Election Commission. Bureaucrats give their days and nights for safe and smooth conduct of the election and often their partisan attitudes come under severe criticism. Law and order authorities curse their fate as crowd management gets on their nerves. Everyone is on his toes. At times, however, one feels tired of the whole process because of the predictable consequences.

One is tempted nay constrained to ask what is this all for? Once a candidate is elected, he is no more a public representative; he turns a king. He feels he is a ruler, he is the destiny maker of the people whose votes elevated him to the chair of authority. He can flout all rules; he can bash the poor toll collector, slap an officer and defy public restrictions. His son, wife and relatives can do all illegal business with impunity. In two generations his family will earn the sobriquet of royalty. His family members will be awarded the highest honours of the country for their ‘sacrifice’. Is democracy then multiple royalty? Each state has ruling families from top to bottom, from the centre to the periphery. Did we bargain for this kind of democracy? This question may haunt us but we can take comfort from Churchill’s tongue in cheek statement: I admit- democracy  is the damnedest form of government but what is the alternative?

Choicelessly, therefore, we have to tolerate the loud clashes of microphone wielding netas who speak more on personal weaknesses of rival candidates than policies of their parties. Often abuses are hurled at each other like daggers wounding reputations. They forget that mutual mudslinging leaves both faces dirty. The netas divide the society in the name of caste and religion, provoke controversies which linger after the election like festering wounds. But the funny side of election speeches is, the netas promise the moon to the people who are now beginning to understand that election promises are like vows made on wine by professional lovers. Yet the poor voters are happy when TVs, cookers, saris and some gold coins are thrown at them and trucks come at the dead of night to their door steps to distribute liquor and cash. Democracy zindabad they shout and with tottering steps go to the booths to ink their  forefingers.

Elections are now managed by expert event managers. Voters are psyched by organizations like Cambridge Analytica and their ilk. The Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp buzz all the hours round attacking and counterattacking parties and personalities. The dustbin of history is dug out for juicy scandals and the people display all emotions of the election drama. Well, we have to accept elections as free shows of human frailties and laugh as loud as you can.