Illusory Success

Illusory Success

How I was misled into believing that my protest against the electioneering process has met with success. And likewise my blog, “Success for Protest” posted on the 13th of October, must have misled my readers into believing the same. I express my apologies from the bottom of my heart.
Oh! I am sorry, you all must be wondering as to what I am apologizing for. Then let me tell you that it pertains to the information I had shared with you all about the incorporation of the “None of the above option (NOTA)” button in the EVM during the recently held assembly polls in Maharashtra. I had expressed my elation and the corresponding relief on coming to know from the TOI, Pune, 13th October,2009 that this time around the Election Commission had taken the right step towards truly empowering us with our voting right. Because that is what NOTA would have done, where voters are not coerced: by people around as well as conscience, to go to the polling booth to exercise their franchise. This actually leads quite frequently to voting in favour of somebody by default and not by natural choice, in absence of a candidate truly worthy of being people’s representative.

Going through the TOI of the said date, I got the impression that NOTA had been incorporated as an option in the EVM. But alas, in the Pune Mirror (a supplement of the Pune, TOI) dated 22nd October, my illusion, as it turned out to be, was dispelled. It was not so. Rather those who wanted to cast their “no-vote” had to ask for form 17(C) for such type of voting. Thousands did opt for it, but it was possible only where the polling officials were aware of such process of “negative voting”. Contrary to this there were various booths where the polling officials didn’t know of such a provision and thus voters with wanting to opt for NOTA were turned away just like the incidents that happened during Lok Sabha polls in Kolkata on 13th May,2009.

I don’t know why the provision wasn’t included in the EVM itself, when otherwise electronic machines are being preferred over the old format of paper/hard copy. This would have made the implementation and execution of the idea possible in the correct sense. Of course, if there had been a sincere intention for the purpose it would have been there. When the names of the candidates, their umbrages (parties/independent) were being included why couldn’t this NOTA button be not included. It would have required much less space!

God only knows what made its inclusion in the EVM, wherefrom its accessibility would have been total, impossible. Or was it a case of “God Forbid” for the parties and persons concerned. Because had the voters had the access to this total empowerment then the possibility of success for the parties would have been bleak and the political scenario would have been spared of the political pollution: pollutants are known to all! Thus the imminent feeling of, “God Forbid, if the people are allowed to voice their true opinion we will be jobless and most importantly shall suffer from the dreaded disease called cold pockets” might have been the decider against its inclusion. Absolute power corrupts absolutely and needless to mention how these public servants (netas) shamelessly flaunt their power for all imaginable as well as unimaginable purposes: all as self-servants. Servants they are of self as they are not able to curb their vices. They suffer from the impression of being masters of all when the truth is that they are not even their own masters in the true spiritual sense. So if they are not elected the inherent perks too will become non-existent! The mere thought is enough to turn them into insomniacs.

I can’t think of any other reason for this incomplete effort towards the required improvement, when it could have been completed with lesser effort. Even if I accept the fact (?!) that it was impossible for the incorporation of NOTA in the EVM in such a short time, I would like to be convinced then why the Election Commission didn’t take the adequate measure to educate the polling officials during the training that is held for the recruited officials before they head off for their respective duties. It is either the failure of the EC or the officials feigned ignorance of the provision: chances for the latter are feeble. How far the EC is an independent body is not too difficult to fathom. Whatever is their status they can’t wash their hands off the issue. It is they who have been entrusted with the duty of carrying out the electioneering process in the best possible way with the sole option of improvement! It is high time the EC proved its independence by rising above the political manouvering.

Me on my part am very sorry for giving you all information that was not exactly exact. Maybe my interpretation of the news was wrong or I was too eager to believe that my much thought-of suggestion was being implemented. Drawn into feeling of being successful, which unfortunately turned to be illusory, elated me. But I am sure one day everyone will realize that the only way to convert the “illusion” that we now have, of real voting right, into “illusory” is the inclusion of NOTA option in the EVM (multiple of two negatives is a positive). Only then it will be the real voting right and not an illusory one that it presently is. I am waiting for such a day of disillusion, as not always disillusion signifies enlightenment.

Sushmita Mukherjee,
7th November,2009.