A vote for Modi is a vote for myself - says a common man
In this
politically charged environment, a chance meeting with an old acquaintance is
likely to turn into a discussion on parliamentary elections, and it did, today.
An old
friend, a small time contractor, came visiting and after a few minutes of chit chat & a
cup of tea, obvious question reared its’ head, “Who are you planning to vote
for?”
He
hesitated for a few seconds and then in a conspirational tone, began
cautiously. “This is probably fifth time I will be voting and in all the
previous elections, I have voted for members of a family. This family belongs
to NCP & has a minister in Maharashtra government, one MP, one MLA and a
Mayor. I know them, the know me, both of us come from same area of
Maharashtra. But this time, I am going
to vote for myself.”
I was
surprised, naturally, and asked him if he was planning to contest elections. He
laughed the question away & said, “I have been voting for people I know, people from
my village, for their caste or religion, and look where it has landed us. The
business is suffering, I am not able to retain my work force (he employs around
70 workmen) & future looks bleak. This time I would vote for someone who
can lift this gloominess, revive the business sentiment. I am going to vote for
Modi.” He said with finality.
I quizzed
him further on Modi’s candidate from his constituency. He was categorical about
it, “Whoever it is. Most likely it is from Shiv Sena. But he is not important
as by voting for him, I would be voting for Modi.”
I delved
deeper and asked him about the incumbent MP, performance in the constituency or
honesty or any other factor which could have affected him. He went on coolly, “Oh, they own half the
constituency. You know these people, how they mint money. I have never bothered
about that. You see, all candidates
would be like that, some more, some less. But the leader is important as he
decides the direction for the country, economy & business. It is the leader
who has the ability to secure my kid’s future.”
He went further
and elaborated on his advice to his workmen on voting preferences. After all,
if market condition improves, more work will come & their jobs will become
secure, incomes would go up, he said.
It led me
to an important underlying question. Are we moving towards a de facto presidential
system despite having a parliamentary representative democracy? Or is it a just
a manifestation of a wave in which conventional & established practices of
electoral democracy, including elected representatives are being swept away?
But the message I got was, “Voter is learning to
vote for self” & that must be a good sign for our democracy.
