Why I did not vote

It is often hard to be singled out singing out of key …. Or playing out of step like Lisa in the Simpsons. I find myself similarly swimming against the tide these elections.

While the overall mood is that you should “vote for change”, unfortunately I do not see an Obamaesque politician to look up to.

The price of a vote in my beloved state has been put at Rs 500, which is good, since that is all we will get for a while to come anyway! I read a post from someone who actually asked his suitors to value his vote at Rs 5000. Good on you mate! See his post below

http://election.rediff.com/report/2009/may/13/votersvoice-ask-for-rs-five-thousand-a-vote.htm

 

Now these are national elections, which means that national issues take precedence over local ones. A conscientious voter would therefore weigh national issues and concerns while voting. What are the national issues from a TN perspective that we should think about?

 

1)      The plight of the Tamils in SL, with a keen eye on NOT supporting the LTTE

2)      Issues of development. Holistic ones, not freebies that do not help anybody

3)      The Sethusamudram project

4)       The attempts by people to enforce their thoughts on morality on everybody

5)       And many more …..

 

I would be very happy if someone could point me to a coalition in TN which actually is made up of parties that all stand on the same side of these issues. The local coalitions are based more on power politics as opposed to issues. Take issues No. 1. Avowed opponents of LTTE are now suddenly singing a totally different tune and have allied with parties that are brazen in their vocal opinions on the subject. Whatever happened to issue or principle based politics?

 

So here I stand …. disillusioned and not even concerned whether the BJP led NDA or Congress led UPA comes to power.When political expediency demands it, the BJP is not so communal and the Congress is not that secular anyway ! You may take this as a compliment or a curse, but it doesn’t really matter who comes to power. I think it is just that India has learnt to prosper; INSPITE of the government and not BECAUSE of it. However this India represents at best, 20 % of us. A good four fifths still need a strong, stable and efficient government to deliver them from the misery they presently live in.

Does anyone really think that a third front made up of parties with perennial short sightedness and aided by the amazingly medieval minded Left give us that? I see a situation where if the Congress or BJP do not get atleast 140 seats each, we may either have a third front government (made of the present front and “allies” of the NDA / UPA) or a similar dispensation supported by one of the national parties. I don’t really want to think too far ahead about that, for it is giving me a headache already.

The SP actually has already announced that they will support ANY party in the centre that will dismiss (constitutionally elected by universal franchise) the government of Mayawati! This is the incredulity of the Indian system and we haven’t seen the last of it I am afraid. 

So we have absolutely NO clue who will support whom post poll …. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the left doing the Salsa with the BJP (maybe I AM getting a bit ahead of myself here !), but the point is that I have absolutely NO CLUE in whose kitty my vote is going to end up in ! I am sorry, but in that situation, I would rather not cast it at all.

 

So, while I doff my hat at all my friends who voted, I must apologize for having skipped it this time. Come next elections, I am sure we will have a clearer idea of who we will be voting for in the national level. I am guessing it will be a direct Modi Vs Rahul battle and I am already watching how these two future leaders of India conduct themselves pre/during/post elections. In my mind, my precious vote is already being weighed.

Hopefully next time I will be able to cast it with confidence.

 

Jai Hind !