“The voter should not complain; he should command. He should not desire; he must demand. He should not grumble and grudge; but should assess and assert. The voter should see that he votes for a principle and not for a party, that he votes for a party and not for a personality, that he votes for a person and not for the purse. …..Vote is an individual right to be exercised socially. It symbolises your freedom; use it freely. If you are a democrat do not be dictated by anybody but your conscience. Political parties that stand for the people also stand on the strength of the people. If the people want that nobody should bend them the people should lend them their strength. It is the people who are the architects of political parties, and through them of their political destiny. Let them succeed in the great test they are faced with” –Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, Your Vote- I, Organiser, December 4, 1961
Since the Election Commission of Bharat has announced the schedule for General Elections, there has been talk and predictions about the outcome in every corner of the country. Since the Prime Minister boldly announced the mission of 370+ for his party and 400+ for the alliance he leads, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the talk is more about whether that would be achieved. Political analysts and psephologists agree that the Modi-led NDA has a clear edge in this massive democratic exercise. What should the voter’s approach be in such an election?
The voting percentage is the first casualty in such a one-sided-looking election, as the voters tend to be casual and complacent about their solemn democratic duty. The party workers from the ruling and the challenging political parties tend to be lethargic while mobilising voters. Though democracy is not just about elections, remember that voting is the most important duty we have to perform to expect anything worthwhile from the Government. Thanks to the exemplary initiatives from the Election Commission with the participation of many voluntary organisations, including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), cent per cent voting has become a popular campaign in the last few elections. We are witnessing its impact on increased voter turnout, especially among women. We should continue that momentum and inspire others to cast their vote.
What should be our consideration while voting? As Pt Deendayal Upadhyaya, one of the most original thinkers of Independent Bharat, rooted in the Bharatiya ethos, wrote in his historical series ‘Your Vote’, Lokmat Parishkar (refinement of public opinion) is one of the most critical functions in a democracy. Though it is a continuous process, it becomes all the more critical during the electioneering. As he analysed beautifully, individual candidates, party organisations, and political ideology-based programmes are all critical factors in electoral politics. While casting our vote, which political programme and issues we are opting for is the more important question than the individual candidates, as in a parliamentary democracy, a party consideration binds the individuals in an organisation. Remember that the train’s engine is more important while casting our vote than a bogie.
Now, in this particular election, what is on offer for the voters? Prime Minister Modi-led NDA is asking for re-election based on the track record of the last two terms. It is beyond doubt that almost all promises made in the 2019 manifesto have been fulfilled by the Government, and some of them are on track. The stature of Bharat has increased on the global stage. We have started valuing every Bharatiya’s life, both within and outside, and exemplified that through the most remarkable operations during conflicts. The successful evacuation of students during the Russia-Ukraine war is a glaring example of the same. The voice of Bharat is heard with respect and due diligence, as was vivid during the G-20 Summit. Economically and militarily, we have made noteworthy strides, and Aatmanirbharta is no longer a mere slogan. The threat of terrorist attacks on our soil has reduced drastically, and every common Bharatiya can feel it. The cultural resurgence of Bharat reflected not just in the rebuilding of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya but also in various corridors of civilisational significance, is testimony that Bharat has started taking pride in its heritage. Now, BJP led by Narendra Modi is seeking approval from the people for the agenda of Viksit (Developed) Bharat 2047. With the explicit agenda of decolonisation and renationalisation, Modi’s campaign naturally finds resonance with the common masses. Aligning smaller but significant players in various parts of Bharat certainly has boosted BJP’s chances. Whether one likes it or not, leadership plays a critical role in a democratic process, and Modi is registered as the most credible face in voters’ minds when it comes to fulfilling guarantees. The emergence of a new voting block called the Labharthis, the beneficiaries of various schemes on the ground without any discrimination, is the testimony of Modi’s guarantee. Modi’s persona, BJP’s strong party organisation, clarity on the ideological programme, and meaningful alliances with the smaller parties at the local level are the greatest strengths of the NDA.
As a challenger, the Congress-led INDI Alliance, which started with the claims of being ‘National’, ‘Developmental’, and ‘Inclusive’, began their journey with media fanfare. Though targeting big corporate houses and guaranteeing a caste census were the key poll planks of the opposition alliance, there is a lack of coherence in the ideology and programme. If Congress is so serious about representation for OBCs, why didn’t it reflect in the party distribution of tickets and organisational positions? If the party thinks the Constitution is not amendable, why did it introduce so many amendments, sometimes undemocratically, to it? If Congress wishes to redistribute the wealth of individuals, how is the party planning to execute it without changing the Constitution? If Congress is proposing the legalisation of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for the crops, why couldn’t it deliver when the MS Swaminathan Committee submitted the report? The party still needs to answer these and many other questions. The lack of a shared leadership face and the absence of coherence among alliance partners is the biggest problem for the opposition. A democracy requires an effective and national opposition. Unfortunately, under the influence of the Communist agenda, Congress failed to give that nucleus to the opposition unity and missed out on its ‘national’ character. Removing Modi and targeting Sanatan Dharma are the only issues that are being communicated by this loose alliance. For their misfortune, the voters no longer find any connection with the same. On the contrary, it is creating doubt in the minds of voters about the intent behind the programme.
Why are people sceptical about the programme proposed by Congress and its allies? One of the crucial reasons is the track record – as Congress has failed to deliver the policies on the ground despite the substantive mandates. People equate the party and its allies with the dynasty, corruption and caste-based divisions of Hindus while appeasing and harnessing Muslims as vote-banks. But, more significantly, in the age of extensive media communication, voters of Bharat are wary of the external factors that may try to influence the outcome of General Elections. Though geo-strategic factors have always influenced democratic spaces, the proliferation of Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence tools have made them more accessible. People see these elections not just as a contest between the two grand alliances but also as a competition of various forces in the mind space. As we have seen on various occasions, passing off aspersions on our democracy and legal proceedings have become a favourite job of the liberal media, think tanks and international organisations working at the behest of various Governments. Though this has been the feature since colonial times, with the rising clout of Bharat on the international stage, the strategies and tactics of exploiting colonial minds within Bharat to further their agenda have intensified. Undemocratic countries in our neighbourhood naturally benefit from such a situation. As the mother of democracy, which has reinvented its model with the required legal framework, institutional structures, and necessary experiments, we should be proud of our democratic success. At the sub-conscious level, saving democracy from such interventionist tendencies from the outside is one of the most critical issues in this election.
We must be clear that voting is our Dharma, not just right. Our individual Dharma should go along with the Rashtra Dharma. While casting our vote, who would find the proper connection between individual-level Dharma and Rashtra Dharma so that Bharat can play a desired global role must be our core consideration. Let us celebrate the festival of democracy by shedding away the complacency and being true to our conscience so that our Rashtra Dharma, based on the indivisibility of the country, the oneness of its people, and the unity of their culture, is protected and nurtured.
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