I was very excited and as euphoric as ever today. I woke up very early in the morning defying my body's sleeping laws. After having the morning dosage of caffeine, I was fresh and ready to go. Today was the 5th phase of the Indian Parliamentary Election 2009. Since I am a registered voter in the Coimbatore constituency, I had to bunk office and come all the way to Coimbatore for voting. By the way, I work in Bangalore.I went along with my DNA donors (my parents ;-)) to the polling booth around 8 AM. As you know, the polling time is between 7 AM and 5 PM. Already I saw a big queue of responsible
citizens waiting for their turn. I met up with some old buddies and they appreciated the fact that I had come all the way from
Bangalore to vote. As I stood in the bee line, I heard that the EVM (Electronic Voting machine) in the women's section had gone haywire. After almost an hour, they got it repaired. EVM is to an election as the heart is to a human being. TII.. This Is India..
The line started moving faster and eventually I stepped into the booth. Before my turn, I saw how the whole process works. There were two polling officers, a voter ID verifier and a presiding officer in the booth. Booth agents from all the parties were also present. As you enter, they verify your voter ID or the equivalent and they ask you to sign in a register. When you sign, one of the polling officer shouts out your name and number and all the booth agents make a note of you as well. Then they apply the indelible ink on our left hand's index finger. After that you go and register your vote in the EVM.
Finally my turn came. One of the booth agents is a close companion of my father. I could hear him whispering to his fellow people that I had come from Bangalore for voting and he was glad. After I signed and got the ink in my finger, I told them that I want to record my vote under the 49-O rule. The polling officer was startled to hear this. She did not know what to do. The polling officers themselves were not sure of the procedure. I told them the procedure and the presiding officer confirmed it. I wrote that I am not interested to vote and signed underneath it. I was the first one to use 49-O in that polling booth and perhaps the only one.
All of the booth agents and hence the parties knew immediately that I used 49-O. If it were available in the EVM then things would have been much simpler. Even a lot of people would go for the option without much hesitation. My neighbor too was unhappy about the candidates but he was scared to exercise 49-O. He feared that all the party members would come to know about it and they could possibly create problems for him.
When I came out, I felt on top of the world. I was very happy that I voiced my discontent and
displeasure about the political parties and leaders of this dilapidated country. I do not want to go blah blah about the issues. We all know what we go through everyday. I vented out all the frustrations accumulated over the years. Even though it might not make a difference, using 49-O sends out a warning to all the parties. I could see the effect immediately. One of my friends told that after I went, a big shot from a leading political party was cursing me outside the booth in front of everyone. Inadvertently he publicized 49-O for free. I was exultant after hearing this. I gave a pat on my back myself for the first time in my life.
The obvious question is, 'What's the big deal about 49-O, if it is not going to make a difference? '
If someday as it turns out that 49-O votes are more than the winning candidate's votes then we can at least try to file a case and use our judiciary to change the existing laws. Personally, I would vouch for laws which would allow the citizens to vote against all the candidates as found in Russia today.
We have a huge ladder to climb to bring about a difference in this country. Today I felt that I just climbed the first rung of the Ladder 49-O.
The line started moving faster and eventually I stepped into the booth. Before my turn, I saw how the whole process works. There were two polling officers, a voter ID verifier and a presiding officer in the booth. Booth agents from all the parties were also present. As you enter, they verify your voter ID or the equivalent and they ask you to sign in a register. When you sign, one of the polling officer shouts out your name and number and all the booth agents make a note of you as well. Then they apply the indelible ink on our left hand's index finger. After that you go and register your vote in the EVM.
Finally my turn came. One of the booth agents is a close companion of my father. I could hear him whispering to his fellow people that I had come from Bangalore for voting and he was glad. After I signed and got the ink in my finger, I told them that I want to record my vote under the 49-O rule. The polling officer was startled to hear this. She did not know what to do. The polling officers themselves were not sure of the procedure. I told them the procedure and the presiding officer confirmed it. I wrote that I am not interested to vote and signed underneath it. I was the first one to use 49-O in that polling booth and perhaps the only one.All of the booth agents and hence the parties knew immediately that I used 49-O. If it were available in the EVM then things would have been much simpler. Even a lot of people would go for the option without much hesitation. My neighbor too was unhappy about the candidates but he was scared to exercise 49-O. He feared that all the party members would come to know about it and they could possibly create problems for him.
When I came out, I felt on top of the world. I was very happy that I voiced my discontent and
displeasure about the political parties and leaders of this dilapidated country. I do not want to go blah blah about the issues. We all know what we go through everyday. I vented out all the frustrations accumulated over the years. Even though it might not make a difference, using 49-O sends out a warning to all the parties. I could see the effect immediately. One of my friends told that after I went, a big shot from a leading political party was cursing me outside the booth in front of everyone. Inadvertently he publicized 49-O for free. I was exultant after hearing this. I gave a pat on my back myself for the first time in my life.The obvious question is, 'What's the big deal about 49-O, if it is not going to make a difference? '
If someday as it turns out that 49-O votes are more than the winning candidate's votes then we can at least try to file a case and use our judiciary to change the existing laws. Personally, I would vouch for laws which would allow the citizens to vote against all the candidates as found in Russia today.
We have a huge ladder to climb to bring about a difference in this country. Today I felt that I just climbed the first rung of the Ladder 49-O.
3 comments:
I thought if the number of 49-O cases go high, then it leads to a hung state.It may be the case that no one can form a government. As per Judiciary,this would eventually lead to re-elections. Isn't it so? So, as you intend, we can first use 49-O as a means to clear the unwanted elements (candidates,parties,etc). After which we should think of bringing in change of laws to choose highly qualified candidates. Kudos to you for taking this big step!
No Dinesh. It does not lead to a hung state. There would be no re-elections. We do not have such a rule. We can possibly use the judiciary to bring in such a law.
49-O is just for ensuring that no one rigs the election. Right now that is the only means to show your displeasure.
good job arun. after all not voting also matters ,if it is recorded :-).just go ahead with ur life and do what u like , just the way u did. good blog.
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