The Hindu : Voters confused, apathetic

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 31, 2002

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

Voters confused, apathetic

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI May 30. The way campaigns have been conducted and police omnipresence have left voters in the three Assembly constituencies, where byelections are to be held on Friday, totally confused.

Sensing voter apathy, campaign managers of political parties launched an intensive exercise to mobilise cadres and, through them, the electorate to turn up at the polling booths.

In fact, the thrust of electioneering was on door-to-door campaign, with the ruling AIADMK even assigning Ministers to monitor this exercise in each constituency. The party managers have now a fair idea of the `face' of the voters and, perhaps, whether they will turn up at the booths are not.

The confusion among the voters, besides apathy, has arisen on many counts — the ruling party's campaign has been on the line that it is much better to elect an AIADMK nominee, because he can get things done for the people. On the other hand, the DMK-PMK platform wants the voters to ``teach the ruling party a lesson". The refrain of these parties is that by electing an Opposition candidate, the voters will not change the Government but will put a check on the ruling party. And this, they argue, will be in the interests of democracy. ``Will the AIADMK member raise his voice for you in the Assembly'', they ask the voters, often pointing to the performance or speeches of the ruling party MLAs.

As if this was not enough, another Opposition raised its voice rather loud — the Congress, the CPI and the TMC in two constituencies and all the three, besides the CPI (M), in Vaniyambadi (in favour of the Indian National League nominee). This `front' has decried both the Dravidian parties and called for a `viable, alternative formation', which can replace the DMK and AIADMK in the State.

The question agitating neutral voters who are inclined to exercise their franchise is: ``Should we vote for the ruling party or the Opposition''? They have reservations about either of them solving civic problems that matter more to them than government policies or grandiose schemes, and wonder whether it is worth going to the booth or they should join the growing brigade of abstainers.

This is what worries the political managers. The frequency of elections, the steady decline in the level of campaign and debates, the growing security for elections and the ``futility'' of the whole exercise have significantly heightened voter apathy, party functionaries concede. ``Our main task now is to ensure a decent voter turnout'', admits a DMK election agent in Saidapet.

The DMK realises the inherent advantages it enjoyed as a ruling party and the hurdles it is facing now. Even after the introduction of electronic voting machines, there are still complaints and allegations of `rigging'.

For the Opposition, it is the addition of new documents such as post office savings bank passbooks and certificates issued by village administrative officers as alternatives to the voter ID card that has caused concern. The suggestion is that the ruling party will `misuse' these provisions to bring `bogus voters'.

An elaborate security cover is already in place and all that the voter has to do is to establish his or her identity and press the button. Counting will take place on Sunday and the results will be declared by noon.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Opinion

Stories in this Section

The elusive diplomatic divident

World Cup

Misplaced jingoism

Investigation as collusion — I

The Kashmir quandary — II

A road map to peace

Voters confused, apathetic