Fearing not to be identified among 'anti-reformists' and against public mood quite prevalent at the moment against ignorant politicians, parties in Jharkhand have more or less welcomed the Supreme Court's Friday verdict.
Reacting to the verdict that provides an electorate an option to choose the 'reject' button, given in the electronic voting machine if one finds none of the candidates fit enough to be voted, the political outfits also put some serious questions on its repercussions.
"The Supreme Court's judgement is for safeguarding the moral values of democracy. This will exert moral obligation on the political parties to field suitable and noble candidates. It is a welcome decision and I think that its practical aspects may be dangerous as well," said Ravindra Rai, president of the Jharkhand BJP.
Rai questions that when candidates nowadays are being selected based on 30-32 per cent of polling it would hardly affect the outcome of the election. "It would not affect the results much because less number of people cast their votes. It is also that voters casting their votes for none would be mostly the sensible voters and if they poll negatively it would be detrimental for democracy because their votes would virtually be wasted," added the leader.
The party also thinks that apart from making the provision for the voters, the effort should also ensure near cent percent polling during elections.
Along with the apprehension, making the decision and changes effective in a purposeful manner is also being questioned. Electorates of most part of the country, especially in under-developed States like Jharkhand, are mostly unaware about the provision that is coming into practice first time in the history of Indian politics.
Shashi Bhusan Pathak of PUCl admitted this before adding, "Right to reject is a democratic right of the voters. During the elections only the system of the Government work that include factors such as money and muscle power. As far as making the change popular is concerned, it is our responsibility and we would work for that. Besides, it is also the responsibility of political parties and the EC to inform people about this."
The AJSU party on the other hand thinks that the matter is half-baked and requires more brainstorming before going ahead. "The judgement is absolutely new thing as of now. We think that people are masters in a democracy and if they want this then it is their right.
But the matter requires much debate at the present moment. This would be brought in Parliament. Also for a healthy democracy, people should be made aware about this," said Deosharan Bhagat, the ideologue of the party.
The worry of making the change popular is omnipresent and newly-formed Aam Admi Party (AAP) is willing to take-up the responsibility. "It is a very correct step. What we feel is that those who are rejected should be allowed to contest again. We are active in 17 districts of the State and to make people aware our party workers would run a campaign in all the areas," said Sunil Mahto, in-charge of APP in Jharkhand.