An Election Scene – in India

Election of representatives, both for the Parliament and for the Provincial Legislatures, took place in February, 1967, in our country. A couple of months before the actual election, there was great excitement in the country. The elections electrified the atmosphere of the whole country, as it were. There was brisk canvassing going on, on all sides. The voters were approached, persuaded, flattered, influenced and given all sorts of false promises. Our own city was alive with processions, and meetings. The various parties vied with one another in making their processions and meetings more impressive and spectacular. Even small children shouting slogans, took out processions in favour of one party or another. Women also did not lag behind. They had their own share of the fun they also took out huge processions in favour of one party or another. Women also did not lag behind. They had their own share of the fun. They also tookout huge processions singing songs and shouting slogans in favour of one party or another. There was endless activity on all sides. Big posters bearing the election symbols of the candidates were posted on every available space on the walls of the city. The voters, whether rich or poor felt their importance. They gratified every candidate saying that they were all for him.

India though the youngest, is the biggest democracy in the world. Every Indian man or woman above the age of twenty one can exercise his or her vote. There are roughly 21 crore voters in India. Elections are held after every five years. The voters can return the sitting members or elect better ones in their place, according to their choice.

There was a polling station in the Municipal Garden near our house. I had a opportunity to see elections from close quarters. About one hundred yards away from the polling station, the various candidates had put up their camps. Each camp had the flag and the sign of the party he belonged to fluttering at some prominent place by the side of the camp. Motor-cars, buses, tongas, rickshaws and other vehicles could be seen hurrying to and from bringing crowds of voters and unloading them at the polling booth. The voters were entertained with fruit, sweets and iced drinks at the camps of the various candidates. The number of each voter was looked up in the list of voters and he was given his number. The supporters of each candidate dinned into the ears of the voters the election symbol of their candidate again and again. The voters stood in a long queue. A posse of police maintained law and order at the polling station.