It is Constitution Day once again! We, the people of India, gratefully remember 26 November 1949 when the Constitution of India was passed and adopted by the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly comprised women and men of distinction, who were able to represent the heart and soul of the people of India without fear or favour. They gave of their best, so that we may a visionary Constitution, which would be the mainstay for and of democracy in India!
In less than six months from now (around end-April, early-May 2024), the General Elections 2024 are due to be held in the country. These elections are expected to be crucial in the context of the future of democracy in India. One does not need too much of intelligence to realise that the country has reached abysmal depths on possibly every parameter necessary for a vibrant, meaningful and people-centred democracy.
It is imperative therefore, that every single adult citizen (above the age of 18 years) of the country exercises one’s franchise and does so wisely. Before that however, one needs to ensure that one’s name is registered on the Electoral Rolls.
As a starting point: FIRST visit the website of the Election Commission of India https://eci.gov.in/ for immediate, updated and accurate information regarding the entire election process. This website has all the necessary information. In some places, it has already been announced that 9 December 2023, will be the last date for registering one’s name on the Electoral Rolls.
Here are guidelines to ensure that people register themselves and engage meaningfully in the electoral process: which is the right and duty of every citizen! Some pointers, which may be helpful, include:
POLITICAL INVOLVEMENT:
8 get involved in mainstream politics
8 encourage / support political parties which focus on governance and on issues related to transparency, human rights, justice, liberty, equality, fraternity, secularism, socialism, pluralism and peace and the safeguarding of the Constitutional Rights and freedoms of all.
8 BEFORE Election Day:
• check out complete details of the candidates, the parties plan to nominate
• organise public debates / dialogues with them and assess their views / opinions / promises / track-record
• study their Election Manifesto of the previous elections and based on that manifesto, see whether the ruling party / sitting candidate has fulfilled the promises made
• assess their views on all vulnerable/marginalized sections of society particularly, the poor the tribals/adivasis, dalits, women, children, small farmers/migrant workers/casual workers, minorities, LGBTQI community
• question(preferably in writing) the candidates on critical subjects which plague the country today like rising prices, growing unemployment, widening gap between the rich and the poor, the takeover of precious natural resources (particularly the jal, jungle aur jameen of the adivasis) and profiteering Government-owned enterprises by some of the corporate sector, drinking water, education( particularly the National Education Policy),food, security, housing, ecology( climate change, global warming, use of fossil fuels), employment, agriculture ( the situation of the small farmers; the anti-farmer policies) health, displacement, migrant workers, casual labourers (the four labour codes) , electoral bonds, demonetization, rampant corruption ( like buying up duly elected politicians from another party),anti-conversion laws, denigration of minorities, misuse of Constitutional/ quasi bodies (like the NIA, ED , CBI , Income Tax, police), military spending. nuclearisation , draconian laws like the UAPA, the incarceration of human rights defenders , the throttling of freedom of speech and expression
• Never fall for their empty promises or ‘freebies’
ON VOTING DAY:
8 cast your vote fearlessly
8 encourage all others to freely cast their votes too
8 vote for a party / individual that is NOT corrupt, criminal, communal and / or casteist and is committed to protecting the sanctity of the Constitution
8 if you notice any bogus voting, rigging or booth capturing, bring it to the notice of the police / Election Officers immediately and preferably in writing
8 ensure that there is photo/video/audio documentary evidence.

• – Fr Cedric Prakash SJ