With the zeal that I had to vote at least this time, I spent around 2000rp to make sure that I reached my hometown on the 5th of May. This time it was my second time. The political situation in India after 2010 is the worst time since I have understood our political system. Scams after scams, wide spread corruption, failure in policy implementation, lack of faith in the system and the list goes on. All these thoughts are kept in mind when the people vote. But the basic question that I got is how do I choose my candidate.?
Most of us have lost faith in the system. But with a hope that day by day people becoming more vigilant and aware, we try to choose best amongst the worst. After all how many of us really check on what all developments are happening in our area and the state. I was watching some pre poll debates in the local channels. People when asked about developmental activities, many of them just blabbered about roads and buildings. Ofcourse, infrastructure is one main aspect of development. But there are so many other areas that people should think off. Have any one in karnataka really spoken off the policies? The only stuff that politicians speak is try and play blame game on corruption and farmers. Be it the 3 main political parties, Congress, BJP or JDS. All these parties have failed miserably when they got a chance.
Politicians generally promise rice @ 1rp/kg or 2rp/kg. I ask them, are they gonna spend from their pocket? It is my hard earned money which I as a tax payer have given to the govt. How many of our MLA's/MP's attend the assembly.? How many of them are really accessible to the public? How many of them come up on a regular basis to our locality other than election time? How many of them really implement atleast what they print in the manifesto? How many of the representatives really understand the system, policies and programmes? How do common people know what they are supposed to really get?
Is it based on the local issues of my constituency or the party that I feel should be at the State level. What if it turns out that I choose a party of my choice to be heading the state govt., but the local candidate from that party is not a good choice. We could look at other way around. I know that a certain party would do better off and I vote for it. It comes to power, but the local MLA doesn work well for the area. Is'nt that a dilemma?
Never atleast representative from my constituency has answered these questions. Last time during the local body elections a lady from a political party who was previously elected had come seeking votes this time too. It was her second visit near our area, first being the time when she had come seeking vote before. I asked her what has she done in the past 2-3 years being a corporator? I asked most of the above questions that I have written. She was spellbound and din't have an answer. She just said Namaskara and went off. I felt ashamed that people vote such people as their representatives who cannot even give an explanation. This was the reason why I have written this blog. Have you thought about your representative?
