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This entry is the joint first-prize winner of the essay writing contest.
  • Category: Miscellaneous

    It’s a choice, but a challenge to cast a vote for the right candidate in political elections

    Choosing the right candidate for the constituency we reside in has been a challenge during national/political elections, barring the voter's rapport towards any leader or party, I presume. At the outset, the right to vote, being the fundamental right of our constitution, has a great impact on the development of a country. With this right to vote we as citizens, can challenge the status quo of the government/parties/leaders and bring in a transformation in the political system. In our country with a vast population, diversified culture, language, etc., the citizens need to know which type of election he/she cast a vote for. We have general/Lok Sabha elections, assembly elections for states, corporation elections, and so on.

    With the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections in our country, the electoral public may look for some parameters to elect the right candidate.

    The contestants/leaders
    Before going in to vote, it is important to know the candidate who has been contesting, to which party she/he belongs, previous achievements if already elected as a member, future vision, manifesto, authenticity (inoffensive), etc. The activities of the candidate must be transparent, accessible, and accountable. The educational background may be an added advantage in political science, administrative service, or any kind of social activity with the public will be appropriate.

    Political Parties
    The fact that the party to which the contestant belongs plays a vital role in the nation's governance. Since India follows a democracy the party, which holds the decisive majority can alone pass any new legislation vested with the powers of decision-making in key areas. Thus, the stakeholders in power at the Parliament can attribute the growth of the economy if they are genuine in traits. The choice of a political party with a good agenda and working on developmental principles is crucial, which in turn safeguards the nation, state, or territory.

    If she/he is an independent candidate, evaluation of his social impact on the people of the constituency is a decisive factor. In the present political scenario, independent candidates attach to the winning parties once they win the elections in rare cases. With the inclusion of the choice of the NOTA (None Of The Above), the electors may showcase their dissatisfaction with the incumbent leaders or parties or their policies, while casting their votes without fail.

    Let our vote not be influenced, be it's a choice of ours to make our constitution look better. Let us all together take up this challenge of deciding the right candidate to vote for and resolve the issues with the current democratic system. Let us make politics the priority, especially the educated youth who can make an impact on our nation's political scenario

    Let me make an end note with the words of the former American President, Franklin D. Roosevelt, nicknamed FDR by his initials, "Democracy cannot succeed unless those who express their choice are prepared to choose wisely. The real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education."
    This is an entry for the Essay Writing Contest-It's a choice
  • #778306
    A nice thoughtful post by the author. As a citizen of this country we have a fundamental right to vote and depending on that a candidate will win or lose the election. That shows how powerful our vote is in this democratic set up. It is obvious that we have to exercise our voting right with due diligence and pondering. Selecting a candidate should not be based on the caste, creed, relation, or friendship scales but should be only as per the capability of that particular candidate to serve the society and nation. If the person is really like that and can help the people as well as contribute in nation's progress then only it makes sense to vote for him.
    A very common problem for the voter is whether give the vote to a party or to a person. If the party is working good but the person fighting for election is not having a good reputation then it becomes a big question as what to do. Like that there are some other issues that voters confront.
    At the end of the day a voter should vote for the right candidate whose integrity is not doubtful and who has a concern for the welfare of the society.

    Thoughts exchanged is knowledge gained.

  • #778308
    A nice thought by the author. It's always a confusion for a voter during election as to whom he/she should give a vote. Almost all the candidates and the parties makes agendas for the welfare of the people but they are just promises, many of them even don't show their face even if they win the elections.

    Also it's very difficult for the people to judge who is the better candidate/party. People should thoroughly check the candidate and the party before giving their valuable vote. They must read the portfolio of the candidate first.

    Sanjeev

    " The two most important days in your life are the day when you are born and the day you find out why? "
    – Mark Twain

  • #778311
    A good post from the author. The importance of voting is nicely mentioned by the author. There are no ethics these days, especially in politics. Politicians want power and they want to achieve the same anyway. Many of the voters think voting power is to earn a few thousand rupees one day before the day of the election. But they never know what type of serious mistake they were committing.
    As mentioned by the author it is very difficult to understand who is the right candidate. Some people go by the party which they like irrespective of the candidate's profile. But some people go by the profile of the candidate. Some people know about NOTA. Some people vote for the candidate who gives them maximum incentive in the form of cash or kind.
    As far as I am concerned I never vote for a candidate who is having criminal or civil court cases against him/her. If all are the same, I go for NOTA.

    drrao
    always confident

  • #778321
    We have the voting rights and we give vote to the candidate of our choice. This looks pretty simple but is not so. Many of us give votes based on a group mentality. Many of us belong to a group or association and we are many times follow the direction of the group leader in voting to a particular candidate. This mechanism of voting is a biased one and would not result in selection of a proper candidate.
    I strongly feel that we should not get biased by anyone as regards to our voting exercise and should decide it ourselves by considering all the factors involved in such a process.
    Many groups and societies are affiliated to some political party openly and canvas for them. All the members of the group are highly biased and most of them vote to that party. This is not a healthy situation. Individuals should come out of these group considerations and choose the right candidate and make correct use of their votes then only it would be a good choice.

    Knowledge is power.

  • #778381
    I feel that the quote, "real safeguard of democracy, therefore, is education" by the veteran politician, Franklin Roosevelt does not mean academic education, but awareness of the essence of democracy. If we have the right to vote, then why don't we have the right to recall before their tenure when we are dissatisfied with the promises not kept by our elected representatives or their malfeasance/misconduct? This right to recall is indeed a democratic tool initiated in other democratic countries like Canada and the USA wherein many states incorporate this law based on the misconduct of the members or malfunctioning of the office. But why don't the political leaders or officials in India hesitate to initiate this recall referendum? The sole purpose is that they take it for granted giving false promises to just win the elections.

    Earlier in 1974, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill regarding the voters' right to recall elected members had been introduced by the CPI Stalwart C.K. Chandrappan, which was supported by the former PM, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, however, unable to pass the bill. Yet, a few states such as Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, etc., follow this recall referendum for local bodies elections. Unless the elected leaders in any category fulfil their promises to actual growth of the economy or work for the people by whom they have been elected there is no need for this right to recall, I presume. This is the real democratic education/awareness.

  • #778385
    It is a coincidence that my post-entry to this contest- also has relevance to the elections. However, on reading full, I can see that the core focus of the two threads are different.
    The author has tried to present a brief narration arranged with sub headings a subject which can be dealt as subject for a full book even.
    The author also says that voting is not just a choice, but a challenge. Here, I want to differ. Indian electorate has shown many times that they know very well their choice alternatives and vote properly well evaluating and analyzing a whole gamut of issue and events past, present and future; and then vote diligently.
    When they do not have an alternative of their choice-they have still another choice- NOTA.


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