Neither suicide nor betrayal

The present electoral system gives the voter only two options. He/she can either abstain from voting or vote for the least undeserving candi...

The present electoral system gives the voter only two options. He/she can either abstain from voting or vote for the least undeserving candidate. The former amounts to constitutional suicide and the latter to constitutional betrayal. The lack of provision for voters to express their disenchantment with the given lot of contestants is a denial of their fundamental rights of expression and equality before the law. By denying them a chance to express their views, the system discriminates against them vis-a-vis those whose views are counted in the form of votes cast for a particular candidate.

Hence, Rohit Prajapati8217;s suggestion in these columns POLLITICS, March 2 for a provision whereby a voter can cast a negative vote deserves to be supported by all those who yearn for a clean, healthy and truly democratic polity. Though the need for such a provision has been voiced by many, including this writer, it has for obvious reasons been ignored by the political establishment and the media. Even the recent suggestion by the Election Commission EC to have this provision incorporated in the poll process was put on hold. However, that should not deter us from seeking this change. For it must be remembered that it8217;s the people, and not political parties, who are the final arbiters in a democracy.

As is all too evident, electoral politics has been reduced to a blatantly opportunistic game, in which 8220;high commands8221; arbitrarily foist unworthy and unsavoury candidates on the voters. Those elected indulge in shameless self-promotion and self-aggrandisement at the cost of the public exchequer. The political syndicates have divided the political space among themselves and voters have been reduced to pawns who can only change their masters, but not the skewed nature of the polity.

The right of rejection will enable voters to break the strangle-hold of self-serving political cabals and forcefully assert the voter8217;s dignity and supremacy. If is not as if there is any insurmountable tactical or logistical hurdle in implementing this idea. All that the EC has to do is to provide for a button saying 8216;none of the above8217; in the voting machine. If the negative votes polled exceed those received by any candidate, a repoll must be held, after a reasonable interval with a different set of candidates.

Obviously, the political establishment will not easily readily acquiesce to this provision. Hence, sustained and concerted public pressure will have to be exerted. This may also include appealing to the Supreme Court through a PIL. Under the present electoral law their numbers will not affect the actual outcome of the poll results but it will truly reveal popular opinion.

We can no longer afford the luxury of leaving politics to professional politicians. The time to expose the charade being carried on in the name of democracy is here and now.