How To Beat The Bad Indian Politicians – The Democratic Way

After the horrific Mumbai Terror Attacks that killed about 200 innocent people and took the shape of the serious hostage crisis that involved the intervention of Indian elite commando force, I have been getting many forward emails and one such email caught my attention, although I have got the same email forward earlier as well. The email goes like this..

“Did you know that there is a system in our Constitution, as per the 1969 Act, in Section “49-O” that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey to the presiding election officer that he doesn’t want to vote anyone!

Yes such a feature is available, but obviously our seemingly notorious leaders have never disclosed it. This is called “49-O”.

Why should you go and say “I VOTE FOR NOBODY”… because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received “49-O” votes more than 123, then that polling will be cancelled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them. This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way of our whole political system… it is seemingly surprising why the Election Commission has not revealed such a feature to the public….

Please spread this news to as many as you know… Seems to be a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India… show your power, expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting… so don’t miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49-O) and pass this info on…

Please forward this mail to as many as possible, so that we, the people of India , can really use this power to save our nation”. Use your voting right for a better INDIA”

and someone actually did some research on this and passed on the official references to this rule as well.

The official documentation from the Election Commission can be found here

A wikipedia link can also be found on just a simple Google search — wikipedia-page

Official documentation of this provision by the constitution of India can also be found here and here

For a long time this email did not get my attention, but after the dastardly Mumbai terrorist attacks the hatred and frustration with the dumb old politicians seems to be maxed out on me that such emails giving even the bleakest of hope to overthrow the old, lame a** politicians seem lucrative, even though many would argue that taking such a stance isn’t ethically and democratically correct. Some might argue that we are not being good citizens by not voting and exercising our “right to vote”, which in turn being un-democratic!

On a different take on this issue.. I think following the “49-0″ law of going to the polling booth and “voting” as “I vote for none” is not per se wasting one right to vote and In My Humble Opinion (IMHO) is neither being a bad citizen nor relinquishing the “right to vote”. I believe, it is an excellent way to bring the politicians to their knees – the democratic way!

The important point to note here is that one must use this provision judiciously, by saying “I vote for nobody” I am not per se running away from my responsibility to the nation but in fact being a better citizen than being forced to elect or select a “least un-worthy” candidate from a bunch of totally un-worthy and scrupulous and worser electoral candidates! The last time I voted I seriously thought – “why am I voting for this person” and the answer was “because this guy, X, is less harmful and less dangerous to the society than Y” – which in In My Humble Opinon (IMHO) is a ridiculous state of affairs.

I am sure that there are other arguments to this as well, — why can’t one of the educated and knowledgeable candidate stand in the election so that this scenario doesn’t’ happen at all. While I agree that these arguments are valid and some of these lines can be discussed and debated – I certainly feel the “49-0″ is an excellent provision in the constitution of India, which puts the onus on the govt itself to remove these unworthy candidates, and empowers the people to chuck the politicians – the democratic way.

While I talk so vehemently in support of the “49-0″ rule – http://voteindia.in/news.php carries the article that – although there is a provision in the constitution to cast “Protest votes” or “I vote none” votes, there is no clause that says there will be a re-count and removal of the electoral candidates.

Nevertheless, as long as we have a suitable mechanism to bring to light the results of the neutral votes to the public, it’s a really good idea and in fact necessary provision to bring in good governance

I hope every citizen of India is aware of this provision and uses this powerful tool judiciously.

JAI HIND ..!! VANDE MATARAM..!!!