Compulsory Voting & Our Democracy (1)–Prof R R Pillai

January 22 2011No Comments

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J K Galbraith the American ambassador once said ” India is a working anarchy ‘. Everything in india seems to in a continuous chaotic situations . Every sector being in this chaotic form under performs. Efficiency is ever so low.Given this condition one cannot expect a very  high participating rate of voters when it comes to electing a candidate in our elections. In our democracy less than 50% often come out and vote.

This figure is quite disturbing. Minister Moily even put forward this idea of making voting compulsory. But in a democracy like ours it is not easy to get implemented this idea of compulsory voting.Also in a democracy you cannot compel  people to participate in an election process.

We should rather ponder why at times more than half the number of our people keep away from exercising their franchaise.People are frustrated at the general fall in the standard of performance of our politicians. Time again they see  many of their elected candidates abuse their position , usurp the nation’s wealth, siphon thousands of crores of tax payer’s money and not get punished for this plunder. Sometimes punishments if and when they come it is too little too late. well informed people turn apathetic to the  whole process of elections . They want better candidates.

Money is given importance in giving tickets to the candidates. Thus social workers who put in decades of good work are denied tickets and the person however inexperienced he may  be of the problems of the constituency, if he fills the coffers of the political party is favoured with a ticket. People see the unknown face contesting the election and apathy sets in.

(To be continued )

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