I am neither a journalist nor a political expert, but I am a voter.
I may not be a master of political intricacies, but I have exercised my right to vote with a sense of responsibility.
Throughout my voting history, I have risen above considerations of religion, caste, language, and region. Whether I voted for Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, VP Singh, or Narendra Modi, my focus has always been on what they promised and their efforts to deliver on those promises. If they failed, I rejected them.
However, it deeply saddens and demeans me when political parties and the so-called Lutyens gang try to pigeonhole me into various categories.
I vividly remember the 2014 election results when the late Sharad Yadav dismissed early trends, confidently asserting that the BJP couldn’t win big due to the numerous castes in the country. It felt like a tight slap on my face. Politicians daringly telling me that caste was more important to me than the nation itself.
I felt humiliated on behalf of minorities who are constantly reminded, 24/7 on TV debates, that they are a minority and should be fearful, thereby should vote in a specific way. But these politicians and the elite Khan Market gang fail to understand that we, the common people, have the right to vote and we are giving them fitting replies through our ballots.
It is we, the people, who are humiliating them back, but they refuse to accept this reality. What a creed they belong to!
A few months ago, when Congress and other parties lost elections in one part of India but won in another, the immediate debate was about North vs. South. I realized that this was a tone being set for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. And what didn’t this gang do? From dividing the country into religious lines, they descended to regional divisions, continually harping on North vs. South, Hindi heartland vs. that heartland, and God knows what else!
Now, as the exit polls are out and show a win for Modi, they claim that the South has helped Modi return to power. Even now, Pawan Kheda of Congress commented that both the big guys would be sent back to Gujarat. Just imagine the mindset of such division!
A two-time Prime Minister is still considered from a specific region, which reflects the opposition’s downfall. They tried to cage us within these boundaries, but the voter does not think like that.
As SRK said, “Never underestimate the power of the common man!”
This sentiment resonates deeply within me. We, the voters, are more than the categories imposed upon us. We vote for progress, for promises fulfilled, and for the betterment of our nation. And it is high time the politicians and elites recognize the true power of the common voter.
The Power of the Common Voter: A Reflection
K S TIkku
