Elections in India

The system of governance has changed all over the world. Today we are not ruled by kings and queens instead we elect the leaders of our choice to run the country. The most widespread form of governance is that of Democracy. In other words, it is the people who form the government of the country. They do so through the medium of elections, where they choose their representatives.

In our country, we go for elections after every five years. All those who are above 18 years of age are eligible to vote. Various political parties put up candidates for election. They move from door to door and try to convince people to castes their votes in their favor. They hold public meetings and explain their plans and programs to the people. They make promises about different developmental works which they will undertake once they are voted to power. In the end, those who get the majority of votes win, while those who don’t lose the election. An election can thus be compared to a battle. Only that it is a battle that is fought with a ballot and not a bullet.

One can also compare an election with examinations. Good and earnest candidates prepare for their examinations all through their five years. They work hard for the development of the people. They are thus re-elected by the happy electorate. But those who have ignored the welfare of the people and have utilized all the five years for personal gains are generally rejected by the people, and they thus lose the election

Elections are however not the true test of merit. Sometimes very bad and persons of ill-repute get elected. Why? This is so because the voters do not know the importance of their votes. They get swayed by false promises, money, or liquor. They think that a vote is just a meaningless piece of paper. Sometimes they do not think about the candidate at all.

They vote for the candidate in the name of caste or religion. Such types of voters are usually from very poor strata of society. Until and unless their economic status is improved, it cannot be expected that they will not misuse their votes

An election in order to be free and fair must therefore build in itself certain systems which will act as a deterrent to those who wish to make wrong use of the power of the ballot. For this to happen a political and ad-ministerial will is needed, or else our democracy will become a farce.