Re: [nukkad] Query about ballot papers

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Rawat wrote: If everybody votes "none of the above", the representatives do
not get
elected, the assembly or parliament does not get formed, the P.M. or
ministers do not assume office. Thus, it is hindering democratic procedure
which will be worse. The cure is worst that the illness.

If everyone votes 'none of the above', it means that 100% voters are sick of
the current crop of politicians. Democracy is all about expression of the
will of the people. If Lok Sabha / Assembly do not get formed as the result
of expression of collective will of the people, it cannot be construed as an
hindrance to democracy and even if it results in a temporary constitutional
crisis, election Commission can always remedy the situation by ordering
re-election. Hopefully, political parties would have learnt their lesson in
the first round and will field good candidates in the next round so that
representatives who are really acceptable to the people gets elected by the
will of the people and not by default. 

If everyone votes 'none of the above', how can you say it is hindering the
democratic process? It is as much an expression of people's will as any. It
is a call for Politicians to field better candidates. Unless people have a
means to express what they really think of the candidates, politics will
never reform itself.

Even if 10% of voters stamp their votes for 'none of the above', it is
sufficient to motivate political parties to field candidates with cleaner
image in an attempt to garner those 10% votes which will make the difference
between victory and defeat. Mind you, these 10% voters are those who would
have stayed away from polling booths otherwise and thus availability of the
option will only strengthen the system rather than weakening it.

V.K.Venugopal


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