Restructure electoral system

Sir,

Carrying life in the clenched fist, polling in the second phase in rural areas of Kashmir province passed on peacefully but in a cheerless and disconsolate spirit. Craning the neck to peep the other side in most segments of Urban areas it remained miserably poor with a frightening gap particularly in Habba Kadal, Khanayar, Amiraka Dal and Batamallo where the poll percentage remained below the potential at 0.50, 3.79, 1.48 and 2.33. The under-current resentment followed by Boycott calls dampened the spirits and dimmed the hopes. However it passed on peacefully in border areas of Jammu even under barking of shells. Besides it will be odious to compare poll strength between Jammu and Srinagar as there is a sea change in each others outlook, approach and thinking.

While clubbing the election scenario Phase-I and Phase-II it leaves no other choice than to resign to this will as election atmosphere was surcharged with threatening, boycott calls booming of guns, violences that stalled the brisk on such occasions. In a democratic setup largest participation is considered a healthy contribution for the welfare of the society. In Srinagar city the polling has remained below the expectation with IPSO FACTO speaks for the simmering resentment in all the sections of the community losing all faith and confidence in platform tricks. On the one hand, Boycott call given by Kashmiri Pandits who are uncared and unnoticed and on the other hand resentful political parties hell bent to abhor the participation in the election process gave a big jolt in its smooth sailing. All have poured out there griefs and anxieties but none has cared to locate the genesis of the disease to be treated in time.

After cobbling the facts, both through print and electronic media. It is evident that no one is happy but mad after change. Although change itself is not the end yet a momentarily relief. And when we bring it the next wish is to change again immediately. And what goads a man for the change is wrong and unsystematic delivery of goods. The essence of change is to bring improvement in the degenerated and rusty system, to deliver goods in right perspective and plug the leakages. Instead, the political leaders mislead the people with platitudes and dramatic pledges. Philosophers have rightly remarked that Democratic election is the root cause of all evils.

In a country which is ravaged by illiteracy and crushed by poverty, it matters a jot who comes and who goes. The common man is not anxious about the quality of the candidate./contestant, to him let the fools may contest what they actually need is good administration and good governance, otherwise, by it is all farce and a criminal joke.

The tragedy today is that all political parties have turned Mafia groups working for their interests exploiting the faith of innocents. It will be no aberration that we live in capitalist democracy where the poor and common man is mistaken for stupidity.

In the end, the intellectual and jurists in the country are requested to restructure the Electorate to make it more meaningful and fool proof leaving no scope for pilferage and negligence. Right to vote be made mandatory and not an option. Dereliction be accepted and no reasonable and valid grounds otherwise shirker penalized. Qualification bar for the voters be made essential and prerequisite. This is more important than age bar. Besides, conscious drive launched to weed out illiteracy and unemployment which is crushed heavily under the weight of spiralling corruption, scams etc. This way we could claim to be in a democratic country providing secured life delivery of economic justice and economic security for every one irrespective of origin and nationality.

Yours etc...
P N Sus
129, Surya Vihar Bohri
Jammu.

Electoral reforms

Sir,

We often hear a loud talk of Electoral reforms in our Country but hither to nothing substantive and concrete has been done in this filed. For name sake we have the largest democracy in our country. After regular intervals elections are held with great pomp and show.

The scenario we witness during elections, may be election of Village panchayats, local bodies, municipal corporation or Municipalities, State Assembly or Parliament, provides the sufficient evidence of the ground reality that every thing is not fine withour democracy.

There is vulgar show of unaccounted trained money. No effort is spared by the contenders of political power to woo and influence the uneducated and illiterate electorates. Even literate voters get hooked by the stakes offered by clever and mischievous politicians because of their vulnerability on account of petty interests and personal greeds. Apart from this there is another segment of voters who are educated but they are apathetic towards the system of elections. The high ups and the affluent class are so indifferent that they prefer to stay indoors enjoying TV Programmes and other entertainments than to moveout to cast their ballot.

Then we have other interested segments of society such as unemployed youth and people with criminal bent of mind, who are deeply interested in elections. Unemployed youth get an opportunity to make easy money for their personal enjoyment during the campaign period. They are exploited by the politicians belonging to different parties. Criminals also rule the roost. They garner voters for politicians through their dubious activities and in return get undue favour at the cost of law abiding citizens. Unaccounted money is pumped in the electioneering which prompts and exhorts antisocial and delinquent youth into undesirable pursuits.

The ultimate aim of politicians irrespective of their political affiliation is to win elections even putting the interest of society and the Nation not serious jeopardy.

The politicians have vertically and horizontally divided the society on caste lines for the sake of their votes and winning elections.

Elections are held after regular intervals without any positive gain. Absolutely their is no qualitative change. Same politicians get elected either in their own party or by switching over their discredited party keeping the over all composition of the democratic institutions all most the same.

In view of this pathetic and gloomy scenario, following urgent measures are required to be initiated as the top most National Priority.

Curtail the role of money to the minimum level. Make the electoral process an economical affair. This would attract genuine social workers to enter into the poll fray and discourage the mafia dons/criminal elements.

Implement the system of Government funding of elections.

All donations to the political parties must be against proper receipts and subject of audit by CAG (Comptroller Auditor General of India)

Ban the mushroom growth of political parties. Restrict them to three main groups. No independent candidates and No small parties.

No bill striking, No Banners, No pamphlets and no other advertisement material to avoid wastage and related pollution of environment.

Impose ban on political rallies.

Besides these, there are other suggestions as well which due to space constraint cannot be elaborated here.

Yours etc...
P C Sharma
Trikuta Nagar.