Voter’s belief in Multiparty Democratic System is weakening with MPs/MLAs frequently shifting loyalties

Should not those who change loyalties overnight for power sharing / self benefits be outrightly rejected by voter citizen?

DAYA SAGAR

Earlier the voter eligibility age for Indian citizens was 21 years which has now been lowered to 18 years, the age where majority in India is just completing school education, has a clear/ innocent/easily impressionable/ sensitive/ imaginative and ambitious mindset ( even in socio-political environment that we have in 2024 , 75th year of India Socialist Democratic Republic ) ‘hoping’ that elders must have prepared a level playing field for him/ her to step in. How far the political environment of the day is truthfully ready to receive the hopefully hoping ‘new voter’ has to be kept in focus while setting the Themes instead of drafting the same simply for making more numbers to come to booths (more under pressures of ‘personal’ needs) the themes must focus on the duty of citizen towards the needs of the country since on the voting day one writes the fate of his/ her country for next five years for which one’s belief in the democratic system must be truthfully firm and in this regard the ground status of the day is not encouraging.
No doubt focus has to be on creating awareness for participation by more old and ‘young’ voter for exercising the franchise but more is the need for strengthening the belief of VOTER CITIZEN in quality/style of democracy that our elders had conceived which was more based on ethics than the ‘political’ ‘morals’ of the day that appear only focusing more on how to carry a voter to one’s symbol.
Surely we should come forward in numbers exercise for exercising our voter citizen right but that is not to vote only but as per pledge associated with celebrating 1st National Voters’ Day we also have a duty, rather first duty, to caste vote without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any material & private inducements as and when the occasion comes.Imagine in case we do not choose the right person to represent us in the Legislature then what would be quality & extent of socio-economic development of the country, and we must assess the status before we go for celebrating the 15ational Voters Day on 25th January 2025 ..
Political culture of the day where among other things the elected legislators & politicians frequently are seen shifting loyalties and at many occasions very less number is seen present in the legislative assembly / parliament while general proceedings are going on is surely more responsible for lesser participation/ lesser interest shown by common man ( even middle class ) in the elections / debates in the legislature.
In the multiparty democratic system that India has this day (as enshrined in constitution of India) it is believed that those who would be hoping to hold and those who hold the reins must be focussing their energies on the subjects & projects irrespective of particular sect/caste/religion/region / minority/ majority/ economic allurements and in case they divert from the ethics then there would be exiting simultaneously social / community institutions who would remind those in power / those seeking vote for power of the basics of a democratic system of governance. But looking at the environment that we are presently living in , such median / middling institutions are nearly missing and where ever some of the ‘type’ exist they are weak enough to correct the faulting politicians or cultivate awareness in the voter citizens about the rights and value of the indirect ‘legislative’ authority one carries. So need is also to strengthen the social / community institutions worth motivating for / forcing for ethics of democratic principles enshrined.The need is more for making the people sensitive about the value of vote and the affect of their vote on the future of the nation.
No doubt surely there are many in political arena who have intentions and desires for holding to the truthful democratic principles but the majority culture makes them too ineffective. The provisions like anti defection law and NOTA ( None of the Above) have not yielded any meaningful results so far and we are already in the 75th year of a republic so there is immediate need for even some more intimate administrative and constitutional reforms for which pressures need be build on those who seek vote since only those in legislature and executive (cabinets) can initiate and order such reforms. Continued..
(Sr Journalist / Analyst Jammu & Kashmir)