Letter to Shri Annaji and other members of the team.- The present st
Posted by: "ROHIT PRAJAPATI & TRUPTI SHAH"rohit.prajapati@gmail.com
Thu Jan 5, 2012 6:46 am (PST)
Date: 5-1-2012
Dear Friends,
Campaign VAAC
C/o 37, Patrakar Colony, Tandalja Road,
Post-Akota, Vadodara - 390 020
GUJARAT, INDIA, Phone No. + 91-265- 2320399
Date: 4th January 2012
To,
Respected Annaji, Shanti Bhusanji, Prashant Bhushanji, Manish
Sisodiaji, Arvin Kejriwalji, Kumar Vishwasji, Ms. Kiran Bediji, Ms.
Medha Patkarji, Justice Santosh Hegdeji and other members of the team.
Sub: Demand right to Vote Against All Candidates (VAAC) and / or
exercising section 41(2) of the 'The Conduct of Election Rules,
1961'in coming elections in five states.
Dear Friends,
The campaign against corruption captured the imagination of people in
general. We believe that a movement against corruption is a long
drawn battle and we have to be in it for the long haul. You will also
appreciate that corruption is not the monopoly of any single party.
Every mainstream political party worth its salt irrespective of
ideology, region, socio-political constituency acts like its peers
once in power.
Therefore we sincerely believe that with the present strategy of
targeting Congress and doing everything to defeat it will prove to be
short-sighted and counter productive in the medium and long run. We
strongly feel that this is time to not just expose the anti-people
politics of Congress but to expose anti-people politics of all the
anti-people political parties. That, we think is the way to deepen
the movement and make it more durable. We firmly believe that we
should not be carried away by the politics of 'Lesser Evil'.
Our group in Vadodara did not fall prey to such temptation to 'Defeat
BJP' even in the aftermath of the 'Gujarat Carnage' of 2002, as, in
practice, it would have meant support to the Congress or other
parties. We never wanted people to judge the political party's
politics based on their expressed view point on one issue with hidden
agenda and ignore their actual actions. We also wanted people to
judge political parties in the totality of their ideology and
political programme.
We have also conducted a campaign for some time now for the right to
'Vote Against All Candidates' (VAAC) if they do not meet certain
basic requisites of honesty, integrity, track record and adhering to
a people's manifesto. We are conscious that there is no provision in
the today's election process for 'VAAC' therefore until the necessary
alterations / amendments are made we think section 41(2) of the 'The
Conduct of Election Rules, 1961' should be resorted to.
The section 41 of 'The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961' states that
"41. Spoilt and returned ballot papers.-
(1) An elector who has inadvertently dealt with his ballot paper in
such manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper
may, on returning it to the presiding officer and on satisfying him
of the inadvertence, be given another ballot paper, and [the ballot
paper so returned and the counterfoil of such ballot paper] shall be
marked ``Spoilt: canceled'' by the presiding officer.
(2) If an elector after obtaining a ballot paper decides not to use
it, he shall return it to the presiding officer, and [the ballot
paper so returned and the counterfoil of such ballot paper] shall be
marked as ``Returned: cancelled'' by the presiding officer.
(3) All ballot papers canceled under sub-rule (1) or sub-rule (2)
shall be kept in a separate packet."
We can try to use section 41(2) of the 'The Conduct of Election
Rules, 1961' which we used in last two Assembly Election of Gujarat
State and last Parliamentary Election. There is notebook with the
election officer which is called '17 A' in which we can write our
remarks and we can avoid pressing any button of the EVM.
Our present ballot paper reflects a system in which the voter has to
choose one of the candidates in order for the vote to be counted as
valid. There is no provision to record the voter's desire to
participate in the despite not wanting to choose any of the standing
candidates. Voters are forced to subscribe to the approach that it is
"better" to support the "Lesser Evil" to defeat "Evil". One important
effect of this approach is that it gives rise to the myth that if the
candidate or party one has voted for does not win or does not defeat
a particular candidate or party, then that vote is "wasted". Many of
us then misuse our political freedom of choice to exercise our vote
the same way some would pick a lottery ticket. This leads to the
vote, the symbol of democracy, losing its worth and value.
A vote is an opportunity to tell the world what we think, how we
feel, and which program represents our interests. However, if we vote
for someone just because we think they have the best chance of
winning or defeating somebody, then that vote is truly wasted. In
such a case, we are forced to accept whichever candidate stands for
election. If the candidate reflects our concerns and ideology, there
is no problem. But if our concerns and ideology run counter to all
the candidates who are contesting, then our vote loses its value
because we can either vote for the candidates in whom we do not
believe, or we can forgo our vote.
'VOTE AGAINST ALL CANDIDATES [VAAC]' means vote against all present
candidates on the ballot paper. In a scenario where 3 lakhs out of 5
lakhs voters cast their vote and the winning candidate gets 40,000
votes. 170,000 voters exercise the right to say 'VOTE AGAINST ALL
CANDIDATES [VAAC]'. This system would provide a space to 170,000
people to articulate their democratic rejection of all contesting
candidates. It would accurately reflect the position and stature of
the winning candidate. It would encourage genuine alternatives to
present politics in the long run. The vote would thus truly express
the voice of the people.
In the recent debate in the Parliament on 27 & 29th of December 2011
all the political parties have exposed themselves fully on the issue
of corruption and we can read their hidden agenda if we read between
the lines. It is time to expose the opportunist politics of all such
parties. Now is the time to be with the people to help, formulate and
articulate their frustration with all the political parties. We ought
to help them work out the long term plan to reform the current
electoral system, and that in some measure was indeed articulated by
some of you after in the months following August '10. It would be a
folly to participate in the UPA v/s NDA v/s XYZ game.
That in long term would betray a lack of long term vision and desire
for any fundamental changes.
We urge you to serious consider the above suggestions on the issue so
that we can have dialogue about the strategies and tactics we use in
our movement. Your feedback on the above suggestions will be highly
appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Rohit Prajapati, Vadodara, Gujarat rohit.prajapati@gmail.com
Trupti Shah, Vadodara, Gujarat trupti.vadodara@gmail.com
Swati Desai, Mozda, Gujarat swati43@gmail.com
Anand Mazgaonkar, Rajpipla, Gujarat anandpss@gmail.com
Shivani Patel, Vadodara, Gujarat shivani115@gmail.com
Amrish Bhrambhatt, Vadodara, Gujarat jkmunion@gmail.com
Jyotibhai Desai, Vedchhi, Gujarat
Rajnibhai Dave, Ahmedabad, Gujarat rajnidave@gmail.com
Chinu Srinivasan, Vadodara, Gujarat sahajbrc@gmail.com
__________________________________________________________
Rohit Prajapati & Trupti Shah
37, Patrakar Colony, Tandalja Road,
Post-Akota, Vadodara - 390 020
GUJARAT, INDIA
Phone No. + 91 - 265 - 2320399
Email No: rohit.prajapati@gmail.com
C/o 37, Patrakar Colony, Tandalja Road,
Post-Akota, Vadodara - 390 020
GUJARAT, INDIA, Phone No. + 91-265- 2320399
Date: 4th January 2012
To,
Respected Annaji, Shanti Bhusanji, Prashant Bhushanji, Manish
Sisodiaji, Arvin Kejriwalji, Kumar Vishwasji, Ms. Kiran Bediji, Ms.
Medha Patkarji, Justice Santosh Hegdeji and other members of the team.
Sub: Demand right to Vote Against All Candidates (VAAC) and / or
exercising section 41(2) of the 'The Conduct of Election Rules,
1961'in coming elections in five states.
Dear Friends,
The campaign against corruption captured the imagination of people in
general. We believe that a movement against corruption is a long
drawn battle and we have to be in it for the long haul. You will also
appreciate that corruption is not the monopoly of any single party.
Every mainstream political party worth its salt irrespective of
ideology, region, socio-political constituency acts like its peers
once in power.
Therefore we sincerely believe that with the present strategy of
targeting Congress and doing everything to defeat it will prove to be
short-sighted and counter productive in the medium and long run. We
strongly feel that this is time to not just expose the anti-people
politics of Congress but to expose anti-people politics of all the
anti-people political parties. That, we think is the way to deepen
the movement and make it more durable. We firmly believe that we
should not be carried away by the politics of 'Lesser Evil'.
Our group in Vadodara did not fall prey to such temptation to 'Defeat
BJP' even in the aftermath of the 'Gujarat Carnage' of 2002, as, in
practice, it would have meant support to the Congress or other
parties. We never wanted people to judge the political party's
politics based on their expressed view point on one issue with hidden
agenda and ignore their actual actions. We also wanted people to
judge political parties in the totality of their ideology and
political programme.
We have also conducted a campaign for some time now for the right to
'Vote Against All Candidates' (VAAC) if they do not meet certain
basic requisites of honesty, integrity, track record and adhering to
a people's manifesto. We are conscious that there is no provision in
the today's election process for 'VAAC' therefore until the necessary
alterations / amendments are made we think section 41(2) of the 'The
Conduct of Election Rules, 1961' should be resorted to.
The section 41 of 'The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961' states that
"41. Spoilt and returned ballot papers.-
(1) An elector who has inadvertently dealt with his ballot paper in
such manner that it cannot be conveniently used as a ballot paper
may, on returning it to the presiding officer and on satisfying him
of the inadvertence, be given another ballot paper, and [the ballot
paper so returned and the counterfoil of such ballot paper] shall be
marked ``Spoilt: canceled'' by the presiding officer.
(2) If an elector after obtaining a ballot paper decides not to use
it, he shall return it to the presiding officer, and [the ballot
paper so returned and the counterfoil of such ballot paper] shall be
marked as ``Returned: cancelled'' by the presiding officer.
(3) All ballot papers canceled under sub-rule (1) or sub-rule (2)
shall be kept in a separate packet."
We can try to use section 41(2) of the 'The Conduct of Election
Rules, 1961' which we used in last two Assembly Election of Gujarat
State and last Parliamentary Election. There is notebook with the
election officer which is called '17 A' in which we can write our
remarks and we can avoid pressing any button of the EVM.
Our present ballot paper reflects a system in which the voter has to
choose one of the candidates in order for the vote to be counted as
valid. There is no provision to record the voter's desire to
participate in the despite not wanting to choose any of the standing
candidates. Voters are forced to subscribe to the approach that it is
"better" to support the "Lesser Evil" to defeat "Evil". One important
effect of this approach is that it gives rise to the myth that if the
candidate or party one has voted for does not win or does not defeat
a particular candidate or party, then that vote is "wasted". Many of
us then misuse our political freedom of choice to exercise our vote
the same way some would pick a lottery ticket. This leads to the
vote, the symbol of democracy, losing its worth and value.
A vote is an opportunity to tell the world what we think, how we
feel, and which program represents our interests. However, if we vote
for someone just because we think they have the best chance of
winning or defeating somebody, then that vote is truly wasted. In
such a case, we are forced to accept whichever candidate stands for
election. If the candidate reflects our concerns and ideology, there
is no problem. But if our concerns and ideology run counter to all
the candidates who are contesting, then our vote loses its value
because we can either vote for the candidates in whom we do not
believe, or we can forgo our vote.
'VOTE AGAINST ALL CANDIDATES [VAAC]' means vote against all present
candidates on the ballot paper. In a scenario where 3 lakhs out of 5
lakhs voters cast their vote and the winning candidate gets 40,000
votes. 170,000 voters exercise the right to say 'VOTE AGAINST ALL
CANDIDATES [VAAC]'. This system would provide a space to 170,000
people to articulate their democratic rejection of all contesting
candidates. It would accurately reflect the position and stature of
the winning candidate. It would encourage genuine alternatives to
present politics in the long run. The vote would thus truly express
the voice of the people.
In the recent debate in the Parliament on 27 & 29th of December 2011
all the political parties have exposed themselves fully on the issue
of corruption and we can read their hidden agenda if we read between
the lines. It is time to expose the opportunist politics of all such
parties. Now is the time to be with the people to help, formulate and
articulate their frustration with all the political parties. We ought
to help them work out the long term plan to reform the current
electoral system, and that in some measure was indeed articulated by
some of you after in the months following August '10. It would be a
folly to participate in the UPA v/s NDA v/s XYZ game.
That in long term would betray a lack of long term vision and desire
for any fundamental changes.
We urge you to serious consider the above suggestions on the issue so
that we can have dialogue about the strategies and tactics we use in
our movement. Your feedback on the above suggestions will be highly
appreciated.
Yours sincerely
Rohit Prajapati, Vadodara, Gujarat rohit.prajapati@gmail.com
Trupti Shah, Vadodara, Gujarat trupti.vadodara@gmail.com
Swati Desai, Mozda, Gujarat swati43@gmail.com
Anand Mazgaonkar, Rajpipla, Gujarat anandpss@gmail.com
Shivani Patel, Vadodara, Gujarat shivani115@gmail.com
Amrish Bhrambhatt, Vadodara, Gujarat jkmunion@gmail.com
Jyotibhai Desai, Vedchhi, Gujarat
Rajnibhai Dave, Ahmedabad, Gujarat rajnidave@gmail.com
Chinu Srinivasan, Vadodara, Gujarat sahajbrc@gmail.com
__________________________________________________________
Rohit Prajapati & Trupti Shah
37, Patrakar Colony, Tandalja Road,
Post-Akota, Vadodara - 390 020
GUJARAT, INDIA
Phone No. + 91 - 265 - 2320399
Email No: rohit.prajapati@gmail.com
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