Irrespective of the outcome of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, one question that needs to be asked is: Should the ongoing electoral exercise be viewed as genuinely democratic? This is the time when every eligible Indian voter gets the chance to exercise his/her democratic right to vote. Unfortunately, as the present election phase, spread over nine stages, is coming to a close, reports are emerging about the manner in which this democratic practice has been grossly abused.
Complaints of alleged rigging; booth capturing, bogus votes and other malpractices have been received from several parts of India. The Indian Election Commission has declared polling in some of those constituencies as “null and void” and has ordered re-polls. Such electoral malpractices in the world’s largest democracy highlight the bitter truth that the system in place in this country is far from democratic.
Not too far from New Delhi, India’s capital city, in parts of Haryana, a political activist recently stated that keeping the political “tradition” of those areas alive, women were not permitted to cast their votes. Others exercised their right, with so-called “officials” on duty taking no action to prevent such malpractices. Ironically, most, if not all, political observers chose to turn a blind eye to those undemocratic actions.
As a matter of fact, Indian elections have been commercialized to unprecedented levels. The electoral process has become more expensive, complicated and a show of democracy wherein the political importance of an ordinary voter has reduced to a great extent. Technically, a democratically elected government is “of the people, for the people and by the people.” But when each and every voter cannot be regarded as an equal participant, how can Indian democracy really be termed as truly democratic?
Given that the ongoing Indian election process has been ranked as second most expensive in the world, several democratic flaws in this country’s politics have been indirectly exposed. While all eligible voters can cast their votes, all cannot afford to contest elections. Imagine the serpentine queues of poor voters with hopes of a bright future in their eyes. Despite the passage of over six decades, cameras still consider this particular shot as their favorite. Ordinary Indians have never failed in playing their democratic role but what have they gained in reality? Poverty is still their companion. To the politicians, they are nothing but votes. After winning the elections, even the mere thought of these voters will slip into oblivion and these democratic leaders will become unapproachable.
It may be more appropriate to view Indian democracy as confined to several classes of people. Democratic rules and practices carry different interpretations for different classes. At the lowest tier are extremely poor, who can at most cast votes. They and several other classes of people above them cannot afford to contest elections. Contesting elections in India can be described as an economically affordable exercise for a limited class of people who have the support of their respective parties and influential people. There is also a class, who contest elections as independent candidates. But even they need to have some economic strength. Among independent candidates are also those who are paid to contest to make a dent into a rivals’ vote bank. Now, wouldn’t this also be viewed as an abuse of democracy?
Of late, some noise is being made about use, or rather misuse of media, by key parties in the race. “Paid news” is gaining greater importance than actual news. When media starts losing its own democratic significance, how can those holding command over the same be hailed as democratic?
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The democratic role of most politicians is confined to appealing to voters for their support. The rest is a show of political grandeur and support they enjoy, ideals they uphold, promises they make, their commitments and so forth. The same drama is repeated periodically, with some change in actors. The role of electorate remains limited to the casting of votes. Once the counting of votes begins, voters’ importance is reduced to statistics. Should this electoral drama be viewed as truly democratic?
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