It is, but in another week or so, the day to cast my vote and exercise my right as an Indian citizen. A citizen of a country that is the largest democracy in the world. It is definitely the largest democracy in theory and although I do exaggerate, possibly even the largest anarchy at times.
I will cast my vote for the first time ever and there is a huge sense of responsibility. Even pride, to know that even my single vote will count towards choosing a government for this country. There are, nevertheless, the naysayers and the pessimists who will continue to ridicule the process and call it a sham. I am not oblivious to the reality, but I choose to believe. There are millions who have chosen to vote and there are still those who have and will choose not to vote. Their choice not to vote is beyond my comprehension. They will not even vote 'NOTA', if they do not find anyone worth their vote. It is important. It is crucial. It is more important than anything that you might plan to do.Please vote!
This is certainly not a post to appeal to everyone to vote but about my own confusion about who to vote for. Barring all other considerations, my only consideration right now is to look at the performance of candidates that I have in front of me. Now, this should usually be the primary consideration, but in India, people have several other considerations that they consider at times to be more important than the actual ability of the person and his performance.
The Republic of India has been headed by one of the most intelligent economists of our time; who in fact was responsible for opening up India's economic borders in 1991 and then helming it as a Finance Minister to grow year on year. This same brilliant mind being the head of the government could not save the country from superlative inflation, a decline in growth and a terrible weakening of the Indian Rupee. Five years, out of the last ten, I was living outside of India and all I heard for the first few from people from different countries was about the miraculous growth story of India. However, in the last 3 years or so, the shine of India's growth story has certainly faded and people did no longer talk so passionately about the growth opportunities in India. Now, is the current Prime Minister Mr.Manmohan Singh solely responsible or is the government as a whole, to be held responsible? I do not know. The Prime Ministerial candidate that the Indian National Congress has chosen is Mr.Rahul Gandhi, who has still to prove himself capable of any office and to directly appoint him at the head of such a vast and complicated democracy is an extremely frightening prospect. What I do know is that I cannot vote for a political party which had the most number of, and the largest scams India has ever had and which also led to the current frustrating economic situation.
The second political party has Mr.Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate. He has been touted a wonder solution to India's economic problems. It's being said that if he comes to power, he will be able to turn around the economic situation of the country. This is based on his performance in the state of Gujarat, of which he has been a Chief Minister for more than a decade. The statistics put forth are impressive and so are the stories that are told about his governance. If his success can be replicated at the national level, then I am surely in for a wonderful time if he comes to power. However, an intelligent reader would have noticed that I am still skeptical (this is for those who have not picked it up). I cannot trust his economic policies when he has no international experience. As the head of a state in India, he has certainly helped to develop that state but would he able to do that for the entire country when he is in a position that is inherently an international one? Does he have enough economic experience to deal with international economics issues? Even if he does have some brilliant economists to advise him, will he have the capability to understand their advise?
He belongs to the Bharatiya Janata Party, which is strongly against FDI in Retail. I wonder if they have actually analysed the effects of this FDI in Retail. How many of them have actually understood the economics of FDI and its effects? Be it economics or be it life in general, it is always the policy of 'survival of the fittest' that is followed. If inefficient businesses go out of business because of more efficient business models, what is the harm? It is finally the Indian consumer that is going to benefit from more efficient business models. How, you ask? Well, the first reason is - cheaper prices! A discussion on the advantages and the disadvantages of FDI in Retail can be discussed ad nauseum, but my basic point remains - have these people, who oppose the FDI in Retail, understood it at all?
The third party to choose from this year is the Aam Aadmi Party, which started off and is still touted to be the political party of the common man and who are not corrupt and who will always fight for the issues of the common man. This party is supposedly made up of all well-educated people and some of them have given up their jobs to do something for the nation. These actions are very admirable and if I could, I would have loved to be a part of such a movement. This party in fact got elected to power in Delhi and their leader became the Chief Minister of Delhi. However, he also resigned in 49 days! Yes, he had his reasons to resign. But, those 49 days seemed like a comedy show. Their actions were haphazard and there seemed to be chaos. I might have perhaps voted without any guilt for this party, had it not been for this fiasco. I am now afraid to trust this man. Mr.Arvind Kejriwal has become the party and not just its face. Ergo I am afraid to trust this party.
I am really not sure who to vote for. It is an extremely difficult choice. More so difficult because I am going to cast my vote for the first time this year. My duty towards my country and my dream to see a wonderful India, cause me to think harder. For people, perhaps I am too idealistic. If you think so, so be it. If you are not, then please vote being a realist. Vote only for the betterment and the development of the country. It is crucial!
