Mandatory Democracy?

Mumbai had recorded dismal voting of only around 40 per cent along with Thane district doing hardly better on the third and final phase of polling in Maharashtra, one of the largest and relatively more educated and properous state of India. Earlier its major cities like Pune, Kolhapur and others also recorded voting of just about the same percentage. In the first phase, polling of around 55 per cent in Vidarbha including Naxal affected most backward districts was considered almost encouraging. But now, with poor voting the overall Maharashtra voting becomes just 49 per cent. There were poor turnouts in most of Northern India too.

In view of this some political leaders have demanded voting be made mandatory. Well, how do you enforce it? By getting the abstaining voters arrested or withdrawing basic facilities from them or making them pay more tax and money?

Voters understand their rights and would always like to exercise provided they benefit from this. How are their expectations met? With more and more lousy promises? They want their problems to be solved; they want able political parties form able government; they want effective security and better times and they would like to vote for change. The terror trauma of 2008 had devastated Indian people in most parts of the country. So they expected a mature approach from the political parties in terms of concrete proposals, schemes and solutions for General Elections 2009. And what they got? Continuing mud slinging, bickering and abusive war of words with the Election Commission forced to act like a parent to pacify a pack of wild brats. We had earlier pointed out in this column about some disturbing trends seen in Maharashtra with people in many areas deciding to boycott voting. What do you do with such problems? You must somehow convince them of the paramount importance of exercising their most basic democratic right. This can only be done by politicians becoming accountable--offering concrete solutions rather than mere promises.

We are not supporting abstaining voters; we are only trying to analyze this most serious trend for the largest democracy of the world. Trying to enforce democracy would be the joke of the millennium!

Before making such demands so-called leaders should first introspect, introspect intensely.