The ongoing lok Sabha election-2014 is a milestone in many ways. For one, it’s the longest general elections India has ever seen; and has the highest first time voters. Second, it is the largest democratic election in the world and is estimated to be the second most expensive election in the world after the 2012 US election. As election fever runs high with just around a month left for Uttarakhand to go to polls, The Pioneer captures the pulse of its people in this special column.
Padamshree Dr Anil Joshi, founder-president, HESCO (Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation) talks to The Pioneer about the importance of voting, key issues in 2014 election and top reforms that India needs.
What does your vote mean to youIJ
Voting is both a right and responsibility. No matter where I am, I ensure that I return to my home-town during the elections.Voting is not just a personal freedom that citizens in a democracy enjoy; it is a fundamental duty that we as citizens owe to one another and to the country for the larger public good.
How will you make your voting decisionIJ
It is actually a tough call. like a friend of mine quipped, Indian politics today is a circus of fools and every fool deserves a chance! Indian political space currently has become extremely polarised with the BJP and Congress being the two shafts. Unfortunately, voting decisions have become a seesaw between these two parties — when a citizen votes for one of these parties and feels disgruntled with its dismal performance, in the next election he simply votes for the other party. This is pseudo-democracy since political choice actually then becomes a lack of choice.
My vote this year will be candidate based rather than party based. Though I always read party manifestoes to assess what new ideas they bring forth.As to who will be my poll star, the three essentials of my lok Sabha leader are — a local resident so that he has a clear and correct understanding of grass-root level issues; a candidate with strong experience of public service and a clean candidate without any criminal record.
What are your key issues as a voter in this electionIJ
Environment and concerns specific to the Himalayas. The devastating floods that we saw in Uttarakhand are a warning signal to the grave man-made dangers that Governments have been ignoring. It is regrettable that even now ecological issues do not feature on the priority list of mainstream political parties. I expect the new Government to give an impetus to the concept of ‘Ecopreneurship’ as the approach to sustainable economic growth in India.
Your take on political development in India.
The fifteen years that immediately followed India’s Independence were the ‘Golden Era’ of Indian politics. Those were the times politicians were committed to national interest.This was followed by a gradual deterioration in the standards of politics in India wherein the sense of public service has been sabotaged by lust for power. India has entered the 21st century but there has been no improvement in the quality of its politics. This election is no different from the last. I am also vehemently against film stars with no merit, no prior experience of social service or political work being pitched as lok Sabha candidates.
looking at the future, I see an uprising of voter awareness and action that will usher in the second golden period of Indian politics almost fifteen years from now. Citizen pressure and voting patterns will compel political parties to come down to the ground and connect with communities.”
What are the top election reforms India must adoptIJ
Candidates with criminal records should be permanently barred from contesting elections. Current form of democracy should be replaced with ‘Presidential democracy’.The last five years have been a classic example of how the pressure of maintaining a coalition cripples the Prime Minister’s decision-making power. Presidential democracy will make one person empowered to make decisions free of parties’ pressure for five years with complete responsibility and accountability for those decisions.
Only local candidates should be nominated from a constituency so that elected leaders have experience of native issues.India should adopt a system of local constituencies deciding their own political manifestos because only then can real community needs be reflected.