In the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka, only fifty percent of the votes were polled. This should be a serious concern for all political parties in the country.

When 68 percent turned out to vote in the village areas, city areas that are rich with well-educated people and techies didn’t care to cast their votes. What could be the reason for this? Percentage of voting at Bengaluru Central: 45.34, Bengaluru North: 48.19 and Bengaluru South: 49.36. At Gavipura, a colony in South Bengaluru, twenty families didn’t go out to vote because they were assured that voting machines will reach their homes. They were even promised money for each vote. Even at this age, when society is technologically far advanced, politicians still con people.

Political parties play a huge role in the ignorance of people towards voting. Elections used to be a celebration in India. Campaigns were not filled with rich displays. The tendency to stay away from polling booths became prominent in the last quarter of the century. Political parties and their fake promises have contributed to this mentality. Corruption and money spoiled our democratic system.

During the by-elections of 2003 in Tuticorin at Tamil Nadu, voters were given home appliances and clothes by the AIADMK. They won the elections. DMK in 2009 had a different approach to buy votes. The DMK candidate at Thirumangalam constituency, Alagiri implemented an approach that was unprecedented. Voters were given money inside their daily newspapers along with voting slips. Alagiri won the elections and became the cabinet minister. Even in Wikileaks documents, this is known as ‘Thirumangalam formula’.

The time of clean politics has gone. Politicians slam and abuse each other without any sense of respect. Politics has become a field for the wealthy and powerful. Voters are on the losing side as individual groups and corporates started influencing the politics of our nation. Leaders started changing their loyalties without any responsibility towards the society. This decrease in quality has made a good percent of today’s youth to stay away from politics. There is no point in saying these to people who want to win the election at any cost.

However, it is the responsibility of a citizen to be a part of this democratic system. Democratic values are an example to the world and every citizen should be aware of that.