To,
The Chief Election Commissioner,
Election Commission of India,
Respected Sir,
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and your team for the smooth conduct of the ensuing General Election so far. So much so I would also like to thank the Commission for raising the general awareness about the election and its processes among the citizens.
Of late, while going through a site (www.myneta.info) I found a comprehensive list of documents required to be submitted by a candidate while filing his / her nomination. A careful scrutiny of the list so provided intrigued me to the extent that I went through the ‘Handbook for Candidates’ published by the Election Commission. To my surprise, no rule or provision contained in this Handbook requires from the candidate to submit his agenda /manifesto/ action plan for the constituency he intends to represent at the time of filing the nomination paper. It makes a fundamental difference for an ordinary voter as he / she is not given a choice to choose candidate based on the merits of his action plans for the constituency. Thus two major stake holders have no consideration of common intents. May be, lack of such a substantive vision on the part of voter leaves no other option to him / her but to exercise his / her franchise on the basis of caste / religion / money or any other factor strong enough to influence his / her ordinary wisdom. It may not be out of place to mention that a major political party released its manifesto a day before the first day of polling. This acts as an impediment for the voter while choosing a candidate he / she deems fit for representing him / her.
Sir It raises a point of consideration whether or not it should be made mandatory for the candidates to file his constituency specific agenda of the work he / she plans to pursue, if elected. The candidate should also make public as to what recourse he / she would adopt to fulfill the promises so made. It will certainly restrict the candidate to promise moon on earth to his / her electorates this document must be brought in public domain by the Commission for electorates to consider, ponder over and facilitate their right to vote.
Further before the end of the elected candidate’s term (before the next election), a report should be published stating his / her achievements vis-a-vis the agenda submitted during nomination. This report will help the electorate gauge the merits of their choice and assist them in choosing the right candidate in the election to come.
Although I understand that publishing a report on the achievements of the candidates is not largely pragmatic, yet I am sure some mechanism can be evolved at your end for such an indexation.
As a young citizen of this country I feel duty bound to point out what better can be done to improve the system rather than cursing it. The way our Nation is changing, and has become ever ready to challenge the pitfalls in the system, fills me with the earnest hope that my voice will be heard judiciously.
I shall be grateful if the Commission could take out some time and reply to this letter.
Thanking you,
Yours faithfully,
Siddharth Mohan Misra,
A proud Indian.
