My Vote was wrong; I want to take it back

Power to vote…Excitement to vote…Series of confusions…and a wrong vote….only repentance…


Intense campaigning was going on for the election asking the young Indians to get up (Jagoo re) and vote. Television, Radio, Newspaper were screaming day and night requesting youth to vote. I also had the power to vote and I was excited about using this chance to use my power.

Few days before the Election Day, I got a booklet at my house. When I read it, I found that it was the manifesto of a new political party called MCRM party. This party was started by an IIT graduate Rahul Mehta who belongs to a family of politicians and freedom fighters. I went on reading the manifesto; I quite liked it. This party had drafted about 120 letters demanding on various issues. Its Manifesto was very well written. I was really impressed. I thought that there is no other party who has taken pains to release and distribute their manifesto, I should vote for this party. If not this time they will at least make it to the parliament after some years. I remembered the name firmly deciding to vote to this party only. After few days I read an article about Rahul Mehta and his party in Ahmedabad Mirror. In that Rahul had quoted that he is contesting election from Ahmedabad East Constituency and taking on none other than L.K Advani in spite of knowing the fact that he will loose.

Election Day Came. My mother was not happy with any party; she told that she would press the button “does not want to vote anyone”. But, I knew to whom I have to vote. We went to vote taking those slips which we were given to us at home. (This slip can be used along with any photo identity in case voter’s card is not there.) Now, there was another interesting thing. I read that slip while going towards the election booth. There was written the name of constituency to which we belonged. “Gandhinagar Dakshin (south)”, I read it. There was something wrong with it, but what was wrong?

I and my Mum stood in the queue to vote. My mum’s turn came. She went towards the voting machine. By the time was getting my entry done at election officer’s desk. And Mum’s voice came, “Excuse me….. there is no “doesn’t want to vote" button”. All the election officials looked confused for a moment. My mother started giving them elaboration that from this year onwards, if one doesn’t like any candidate there will be an option for that; in case of more than 50% people pressing for this option there will be a reelection. After listening to this all the officials started laughing and giggling. One of those officials said “there is no such option and now you have no option; you will have to vote anyone. Press any of these buttons, it doesn’t matter.” My disappointed Mum had no other option and therefore she pressed some button to make election officers hear a beep sound.

Then came my turn; I was also little disappointed with what had happened with my mother but, I went ahead towards the voting machine. I looked the voting machine with wariness and “what the hell is this” I said to myself. There were the names of all the candidates in Gujarati and there were symbol of their parties. It’s not that I couldn’t read Gujarati; though I always studied in Non-Gujarati medium school but, growing up and living in Ahmedabad since past many years had made me make out written Gujarati. There were the names of 17 candidates. Do these many candidates file their nominations for election? What for? Is it a fun thing or a hobby for them? In a state with a strong hold of only one party and with a hope that only two main national parties can win, there are people who want to fight elections. And to my wonder, they don’t even care to tell junta that they are fighting elections, leave the cause of fighting election behind. Still, this was not reason of my exclamation. The reason was more heart breaking; I couldn’t find the name of my candidate Rahul Mehta. Name of his party was no where written and I didn’t know the symbol of MCRM party. Why the hell they didn’t print their party’s symbol on their manifesto. Now what to do?? Yes…. Rahul Mehta had told in the newspaper that he is fighting against L.K Advani from Ahmedabad East. Like almost every Indian I knew the symbol of two main national parties of India. I looked for lotus...found it...but, Adavaniji’s name was nowhere along with it. There was some other candidate unknown to me. Then I recalled that in the slip constituency written was Gandhinagar South. Oh! I it was my mistake, I thought that I belong to Ahmedabad East but the fact was that I belonged to Gandhinagar South. Now, what to do, there was no point in searching for “doesn’t want vote anyone” button; Mum had already created a laughter moment for election officers. I slanted little bit to look outside the card board covering the voting machine, if parties and their symbols are written anywhere. Nothing was written, but an unclji were standing and waiting impatiently for casting his vote. I sighed, I had to vote, so I closed my eyes and pressed my button (I didn’t closed my eyes actually but to maintain the secrecy of my vote I’m saying this.)

Story doesn’t end here. I and my Mum both dismayed were returning from the voting desk stopped at the gate and asked the security forces appointed there, “Which Constituency is this?” We got an answer, “this is Ahmedabad East”. What??

I have no idea, what I have done. All I know is that my vote was wrong and I want it back.

Story is now over.

Moral of the story

We (including me) are educated youth. We therefore have not only right but access to all the information. Even if no one gives us, we should gather all the important information about the parties, candidates, and the constituency to which we belong. It was my mistake, though newspapers were telling, about the candidates I didn’t bother to read about them.

And candidates, if they stand in the elections with a desire to win, they should seriously and professionally prepare for it. Not only they should come with their short term and long term plans, they should be transparent enough to tell their strengths and weaknesses. And making junta aware about their candidature is minimum that is required.

Election commission should make it point that in all the election booths a chart of parties and their respective symbols is kept visible and names of the candidates and parties are written not only in local language but also in Hindi and English.

We learn from our mistakes. It was just the second time I voted, in fact first time for lokshabha elections. But, I have learned a lot from this experience. I can not get this vote back but I can use my voting power in a better way next time.