Voter’s benefit and Tamil Nadu innovation

Often many voters in India would ask what benefit the voters would get if they vote as the present system cannot be changed whether they vote or abstain from it. Only the brand name is different but the content of all political parties are almost the same, many feels.

Some politicians in Tamil Nadu have really answered the question of such voters who are otherwise reluctant to participate in the electoral process purely due to lack of hope and faith in the system. The simple answer was money for vote. Once the money is given, the question of what one would get for voting automatically disappears from the mind of the frustrated voter. Naturally whosoever has given the money; people pledge their gratitude and vote in favour of the candidate. When the game of money entered into our election system, the entire system of fair election, democracy, people are the ultimate power centre in democracy etc., become symbolic and meaningless.

We cannot blame any particular political party for the above caldarium. People were reluctant and wanting to know what benefit they would get for participating in election process, some politicians have invented the answer in the form of money and bought the vote of the voter to win election.

According to such politicians, technically no rule or ethics of democracy they have subverted or mutilated? Apparently everything looks perfect and fine. It is the innocence, impecunious situation, lack of awareness and education of many people in Tamil Nadu even after 60 years of Independence is the primary cause for ‘sell and buy vote’ doctrine that has encroached firmly into our electioneering system.

People should ask who made them to be so helpless despite our country completing 60 years of independence and why the people are re-electing the same old political party that had destroyed the state.

Rs.500 or Rs.1000/- for a vote is indeed an amazing deal as far as poor people are concerned because their daily earning itself may not cross 350/- for working from 9 am through 6 pm or even more. Standing up in queue until cast the vote won’t take more than an hour and also doesn’t warrant any hard labor. Rs.500 or 1000 is indeed a great deal, many say.

If the poor people turn their face towards the politicians and ask what benefit the politicians would get in turn for buying their vote for Rs.500 or Rs.1000? What would be the profit the politicians make out of the investment of Rs.500 or Rs.1000 on each vote to their favour? From where do the politicians spin the profit for the expense that they incur for buying vote other than by looting state or nation? Then why are these innocent people adamant to remain innocent and impecunious just to allow their political establishment to loot and make them impoverished?

How to break this culture? All of those who think this system must change must owns up the responsibility and must do their bit best to change the system.

Tamil Nadu wants to participate in building New India as envisaged by our beloved Modiji. Linguistic, identity patriotism over 5 decades has not made the state progressive at citizen level. The state (many politicians) has in fact developed but not its people.

Today, Modiji and Mr. O. Pannerselvam (OPS) are the two tall leaders most people in Tamil Nadu are willing to listen to. Both these leaders are trusted and people hope firmly that they would change the destiny of the state from Drawidian politics.

Most of the people in Tamil Nadu are like nestling bird that peeps out from its nest with curiosity and hope that its mother would bring food. To break Drawidian politics, Modiji need clear development mantra exclusively for TN than any Modi Magic.

A very drastic surgery is must for TN. 100% prohibition must be imposed in TN. People are made crazy, lazy and directionless due to freebies and liquor shops. We may get a very shocking statistics on alcohol consuming population in TN if a proper survey is done. The huge revenue of the Government from Government owned liquor shops proves nothing but not the quantity of alcohol consumption is increasing day by day but the number of people who falls into such trap is also increasing alarmingly.

The penury, domestic violence, lack of awareness, intent to sell vote etc., are mostly due to the breadwinners of most families siphoning out the money in liquor shops. The extent of corruption in Government machinery is also might have its origin from liquor temptation.

Like Nitish Kumar of Bihar, a very bold, cruel and Hitler-ian law prohibiting alcohol use, consumption and storing in TN is must. It may create some chaos for a short while but will settle down soon. Once the liquor ban is done, TN is saved by 50%.

Liquor ban will save people, family, stop the innocent people from selling own franchise and certainly the possibility of politicians to easily allure poor people with freebies. Many poor people are victims of alcohol consumption and can be saved only if alcohol is made not available to them.

If OPS and Modiji come out with clear vision for TN certainly the state would rally behind them and state also will prosper. Making a new Tamil Nadu from Drawidian rule is not an easy task because the Drawidan rule has reduced the people not just politically but culturally, linguistically, at education and in overall thinking level. Modiji has to first undo all the negative impacts of Drawidian politics and then must re-configure the state politics with new vision and plan.

It is wise to address the youth first because youth are the real future of TN. The youth can change their family as well as the state. Bring liquor ban, the state will automatically prosper.

Dr S Ranganathan