With India in election mode the focus has shifted to politics. Quality of politicians, duty of Politicians, character of politicians. But let us wait for a moment and ponder about not those who will be elected but about those who would be electing – that is the electorate. Do those electing do not have a responsibility? In fact, they have a greater responsibility. With over 81 crore voters India has the largest number voters and the shape and quality of government will not depend on the 543 odd members of Parliament who would be elected but on the wisdom of those 81 crore plus voters who would be exercising their franchise to chose the representatives. Complaints about quality of Governance do not hold much water when we realize that almost 45 to 50 per cent of the voters do not exercise their right to vote, rather shirk their duty to vote. What after all is good governance? Simply stated it is electing the right man for the right job. But when such large numbers do not go to vote how can we expect the choice to be right. This time the election commission has taken up the right cause by emphasizing on the need to vote. The aggressive awareness campaign is showing results though we find that there is still a significant proportion of electorate that is not voting. Nevertheless, there is a discernible improvement and this will definitely help in improving things, particularly electing the right representatives. The Greatest problem of our country has been the decline of values in politics. Mahatma Gandhi had very rightly said that one of the seven deadly sins of the society was politics without principles. Certainly politics cannot be principled if politicians are not principled. And it is the duty of the electorate to ensure that they elect politicians with principles. A popular quote that has been attributed to many a great men from Tocqueville to Mencken to Thoreau, says that ‘People get the Government which they deserve.’ This implies that the role of electorate in electing the right representatives is crucial. The big question is how to do it? Two things are important – One that every eligible voter must exercise his or her franchise. And second, he or she must do it on the basis of principled considerations and cast vote ethically. My English teacher, an Irish priest, while giving us tips for appearing in examination always used to tell ‘think before you ink.’ The same principle applies before you go to vote and extend your finger to the polling officer for putting that ink before you press the button to cast the vote. The electorate must remember on the voting day those words of Gandhi, ‘your future depends on what you do today.’ Finding out the ‘right choice’ may not be easy, but it is well nigh possible. Just apply your emotional intelligence, be objective and do not get carried away. Elect a person, whose hands are ‘as clean as they are empty’ – the words that are used to describe American Statesman Thomas Jefferson.
One who is anxious to retain that consciousness of a disinterested administration of the public trusts which is essential to perfect tranquillity of mind – the concern so very dear to Jefferson.
shashwatchintan 