Sunday, May 05, 2013

My Experiment with vote - 2013

Its election time. The only time when YOU are of prime importance to the filthy rich, utterly corrupt politicians.

No matter how much we curse the politicians, I feel it is our right to vote rather to be indifferent to the system.

Without much blabber about changing the system, bringing awareness n other crap which never happens (yes, I'm too cynical) let me put down my experience of voting today for the Karnataka Assembly elections 2013.

Thanks to the election committee for arranging polls on a Sunday lest our companies would've made us to work on another Saturday.

Comparing the campaigns that were carried out late 80's n 90's this time (what we witnessed as kids), I must say the campaigning has become very dull this time. I vote in the Byatarayanapura assembly of Bangalore Urban division and I couldn't even name 3 three candidates who are contesting.


I see many campaigning on social networking sites as well, many claiming to be anti-corruption, don't know to what extent. By the end of campaigning period, all data I could collate were from the pamphlets distributed across the constituency promising wonderland to the voter.

I've cast my vote three times in the past and bad luck prevailed twice. Still it hasn't put me into a condition which would trigger me not to cast my vote.

Last evening, all of a sudden I felt the urge to cast my vote. The standing MLA/Councillor had dug out our road one and a half year ago planning to repair the same but not doing so. One and a half year isn't enough for these people to repair it. Who knows what they would've done if they were a part of Japanese Govt (which repaired out a road in 6 days which was damaged due to a 6.8 Richter scale earthquake)

I started grepping ceokarnataka.kar.nic.in site to check out the candidates who are eligible. Nobody stood out. Decided not to vote.

Got up early in the morning. 4AM. Got ready very early as if it is a festival. Took a book to read and dozed off another 2 hours.


My grandpa had expired this February and my dad is not in a position to vote as he his bed ridden. I thought of informing the same to the election officials in the booth. Took the death certificate of my grandpa and a doctor certificate for my dad along with the documents I needed to vote.

On the way, as every time, I was greeted by all people who would never even look at us on any other day screaming at me 'Sandesh, kaangress paksha, kai ge mata haakeepa', 'Sandesh, Kaangress avru enu maadilla, nimm beedi ella ekkutsbittiddare, ee sarti JDS ge mata haakbeku', 'Swamy, BJP ge mata haaki aayta??'. I just nodded at everyone affirmative just to get rid of them as usual.

Went to the polling booth, gave the docs and got the permission to vote. I also inquired about deleting the entry of my grandpa to which they said, it needs to be done at the BBMP office. I was like 'Come on, BBMP has issued a death certificate, shouldn't it be automatic to remove it from the electoral list? I didnt even ask about my dad's unavailability to vote.

Was very disappointed. Didnt inquire about not casting vote. Went to the EVM desk, selected the same candidate whom I voted last time, cast my vote and came back.

The politicians have brought our country to a state where making a difference is very difficult. Hoping things would be set right at least this time.

See you...