The Bhartiya Janata Party’s (BJP) attempt to infantilise and diminish Rahul Gandhi is succeeding. Today, many Indian voters claim that though they do not support the BJP, they will vote for the party because the opposition does not have an alternative to Mr. Narendra Modi.
The BJP has successfully made Mr. Modi omnipresent. His larger-than-life image has caused the Indian electorate to believe he is incomparable and unreplaceable. Possibly, this influenced Ajit Pawar to say ‘Today, there is no alternative to him in the country as well as in the world. We have to make him the Prime Minister for the third time’.
Potentially, voter embarrassment and fatigue with, and seeing through, BJP and Hindutva shenanigans are feeding into the ‘Modi because there is no viable alternative’. Simultaneously, they are satisfied with Mr. Modi’s perceived distance from Hindu right activities, his benign religiosity, and happy with his shaping India. Antipathy towards the Congress and their fixation on the Gandhi’s probably results in support for Modi but not necessarily the BJP.
Of course, many have reasons to want a Modi government. But the fatalistic belief of a lack of alternative that results in voting for Mr. Modi does not bode well for India. It suggests that though citizens are aware of the consequences of the manner in which the country is being run, these are inconsequential because of an apparent lack of a political option to Mr. Modi.
Are voters duping themselves, or others, trying to detach Mr. Modi from the BJP, its ideology and other BJP candidates? Mr. Modi traverses the country and campaigns for BJP candidates because his Prime Ministership depends on BJP candidates winning. The excuse of ‘no viable alternative’ has other major ramifications. Those giving this pretext are unconcerned with the quality of BJP candidates in their constituency even though when elected they will be responsible for the constituency’s development, and may eventually become ministers in the Modi government.
India faces other issues besides Pessimism Voting.
The Indian electorate have never had it as difficult as they have it now. In this age where information is easily accessible, the 2024 general elections may not be about informed choice. Per the 2024 Global Risk Report brought out by the World Economic Forum, Indian executives listed misinformation as the number one (1) risk to the country.
Though one wishes to believe in the sanctity of election results and that it reflects citizens choosing what is best for the country, the truth is probably different. Demagoguery, ‘rewdis’, emotive issues of religion and caste, and bribes colour electoral choices. There is also the issue of EVM inviolability and elected candidates switching parties. In such instances can the much-needed checks and balances vital in a democracy be created by voting for other political candidates?
Most Indians believe their democratic duty ends with casting their vote. In the 2019 general elections, BJP and allies won 353 parliamentary seats with a 45% vote share. But the disaffected majority who did not vote for the BJP and NDA candidates have been silent on issues that may have caused them to ignore the BJP.
Let’s not forget politicians claim they join politics to serve people and the nation. The electorate, by voting in a politician and political party, are doing the politician and party a big favour by giving them an opportunity to serve. However by winning elections, mortal candidates become unassailable gods. The electorate do not demand accountability of the party and politician because doing so implies betrayal or, worse, confirms bad choice. Thereby the electorate do them an even bigger favour.
Today India echoes with the BJP complaint about the Congress years – when Congress-I had parliamentary majority, or cobbled together an unequal coalition, and formed the government. Is the BJP pointing to the far-reaching deleterious consequences for the nation of a brute majority and imbalanced coalition. Shouldn’t the electorate take cognisance of these reminders from the BJP and not repeat its past errors?
In these circumstances, None of The Above (NOTA) is an option for Indian voters. The Hon’ble Supreme Court’s (SC) observation in its 2013 decision, on the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) petition, that electorates have a right to show disaffection and also choose a morally upright candidate led to the implementation of NOTA.
NOTA was first included as an option during the 2013 assembly elections. In the 2019 general elections, 1.04% of voters chose NOTA. In the spirit of this SC order, many State Election Commissions recognise ‘NOTA’ as a fictional candidate. Accordingly, if NOTA gets more votes than other candidates, new elections are called for. If in the second election NOTA still secures more votes, then the candidate with the second highest votes is declared elected.
NOTA does not prevent a political party from winning, and eventually forming a government. Those elected under NOTA circumstances celebrate a hollow victory. Imagine a government of those with fewer than NOTA votes.
NOTA counters lack of information, presumed lack of alternatives, foils political machinations, and circumvents potential post-election voter recalcitrance and apathy.
The electorate forgets that voting is not always about resigned choices or completely eliminating a political party. Sometimes it is about forcing all parties to work together.
Millions enjoy the capers of fictional characters saving the day. Now there is an opportunity to bring to life something far more relatable, a fictional candidate – NOTA. The power of NOTA is it empowers those that employ it. NOTA is that hero that knows its win demands its sacrifice. This sacrifice is for the greater good of democracy because it recalibrates the definition of electoral victory. When sufficient numbers choose NOTA, it gets the ability to translate elections into a process which is By the People, Of the People and For the People.
(Samir Nazareth is an author and writes on socio-economic and environmental issues)
