We
have at present democracy, in that our representative is decided by
election of the suitable candidate by voters. These candidates are
expected to represent the interests of voters in general. In this
post I want to discuss how correct this expectation is that, these
elected candidates truly represent the aspirations and needs of their
voters. My study of these candidates for so many years has shown that
actually, this expectation of our constitution writer is wrongly
based unfortunately, and I want to discuss the reasons for that here
in this blog. We always know that there is difference in theoretical
approach and practical approach. Here also we see sadly though, that
difference comes on surface. It is a theoretical expectation that
these candidates should represent voter's aspirations truly but what
is practical experience? Do they represent voter's aspirations and
needs and demands. The reply is NO!
Why
they do not always do that and when they do it? I wanted to find out
the reasons for this off-the-wall behavior of these otherwise neat
people. First, is it really a bizarre behavior or is it by intention
and by guided motivation that they behave in this manner. To
understand this we should know the details of the procedure of
elections we hold in our country. To know number of factors involved
in any election process and how they influence the behavior of this
candidate is necessary to get to its roots.
Let
us take a case of a candidate selected by a political party. How many
factors are involved in his/her election? Party's leader's
aspirations, the aspirations and expectations of his other party
members who are responsible for him to get the ticket, his own
ambitions, requirements of his financiers, desires of his family and
friends, effects of other pressure groups on him, and lastly
aspirations and needs of his voters. That means in all as we find
seven factors are involved in the process of his getting elected. We
see that even though voters decide his fate they have last priority.
This is because voters are not a strong force that can compel hi to
do what they want as their representative. Other six elements have a
capacity to push him to do whatever they wish him to do. That means,
pressure capacity is the most important factor that decided whether
this candidate will work or not. I have enlisted these factors in the
capacity as pressure groups and therefore, we see that Party's
central leadership has maximum power to make him do things and voters
have minimal power in that. Supposing voters requirement and Party
leader's requirements clash obviously this candidate will do what
leaders want him to do and voters will be left high and dry!
I
was told by one candidate from Shiva Sena that candidate is required
to pass proposals of requirements of voters to their leaders and if
leaders also approve of that then only the candidate can take up the
issue not otherwise. In other parties also more or less the
arrangement is similar. When I asked a candidate why voters are
having least position even though his vote makes him what he is. He
told me even though this is correct in practice we have to deal with
leaders and get favors from them while a voter is gone nowhere after
the election is over. We need not really bother for what he wants for
at least another five years. Similar condition exists in case of
other five factors. A candidate has to face them on regular basis and
answer them for all the five years so long as he is elected
candidate. Amongst all these factors financiers is sometimes more
important than even the party leaders. Money being the most important
thing in every place.
I
asked him is there any way out to get voter prime position in this
ladder of factors? He only suggested that in many cases party workers
if truly care for the needs of voters they can create pressure on him
and make him do what they want and by that method it is possible to
get voters aspirations honored by him not otherwise. Directly a voter
can create no pressure of him. Does it mean that unless pressure is
created a candidate shall not comply with voter's requirement? The
answer was Yes, a candidate cares nothing for a voter once he has
elected him.
This
is the situation today of our democracy. I want my readers to suggest
how this problem can be resolved. It is proved beyond doubt that
present election based democracy does not help the voters but it is
the system that is intrinsically corruption breeding system. This is
because to win an election the candidate has to spend a lot of money
as we all know. Ordinarily elections cost the candidate to the tune
of at least one million rupees or more. When he spends so much money
he has to recover it! How can he do it unless he makes some money by
his position as people's representative. His remuneration is not so
much that he can pay back to his financiers the cost of his election.
He has to get concessions to them and many more things he has to
indulge in and that amounts to corruption. Most candidates are dualy
sold to business men so that they recover the cost of election and
more. If I say our present system of election is by itself
intrinsically corruption prone and so long as this continues we
cannot get rid of corruption from our society. Can we blame our
elected representatives if they encourage corruption to recover the
cost of election?
At
the end of the day we have to admit that present party politics and
election based on it is not going to help voters get their
aspirations fulfilled. To get voters' their right for proper
representation we have to abolish party politics altogether.
Candidates will be independent because when he is an independent
candidate he is not to bother for party high command, local leaders,
other meddling agencies, however, he may have to consider his
financiers and so he can concentrate properly most of the time on the
needs of his voters. In our constitution also there is no mention of
party politics. That was added afterwards. Parliament made of party
politicians will never help in that. So the problem is, who can make
these changes in the present arrangement?
You
may contact me on my Email ID given below,
You
are invited to visit my other blogs
Ashok
Kothare,
http://ashokkotharesblog.blogspot.com/
for
stories
I
reckon,
http://kotharesviews.blogspot.com/
for philosophy
You
may visit blog, Ideas
and tips on any subject,
http://kotharay.blogspot.in/
for intelligent discussions.
Freedom
of Expression, http://blogs.siliconindia.com/kothare/
for intelligent discussions.
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