A positive vote for the India we dream of!

My friends often ask- whom do you vote for if you know that AAP cannot win and AK cannot become PM. This is probably the most important question facing many of us today. So I have put down my thoughts regarding it.

Let’s say about two-thirds of BJP supporters are those hard-core people who truly believe in their hearts that Modi is the best man for the job and that Godhra was either something he cannot be blamed for or something that 'allowed us to show them who is the boss', depending on their Hindutva inclinations. And there are those who are Congresswadis and will vote for it. Let's leave them aside. My answer is for the remaining lot.

For the remaining people, there are two options, and it depends on what they want their vote to mean. Many feel that their vote is precious and the value of a precious vote comes only when it leads to a stable 5 year govt. Their main problem with AAP is that it might divide votes and lead to an unstable govt. They know that under BJP, corruption will continue, divisive politics will continue, 'the system' won't change, but they are willing to accept that consequence in return for what the BJP promises to provide- a stable govt under a strong and 'experienced' leadership.

The others (including me) feel that for decades, all we did while voting was chose between one corrupt divisive party and the other. For the first time, my vote is not just for the next government but for changing the entire polity and the entire system of the country. TWO YEARS AGO, THE ENTIRE NATION WAS ON THE STREETS FOR LOKPAL AND STILL THE POLITICIANS DID NOT BUDGE. BUT A SIMPLE SMALL ELECTION IN A TINY STATE OF 7 SEATS WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE THE POLITICIANS TO PASS LOKPAL. MY PAPA SAID IN AN EARLIER COMMENT THAT HORSE TRADING CANNOT END IN POLITICS. BUT IT DID END IN DELHI, WHEN THE BJP REFUSED TO MAKE ANY DEAL FOR JUST 2 SEATS? IT WAS NOT A MAJORITY VICTORY WHICH BROUGHT ABOUT THE CHANGE DID IT? IN FACT IT WAS THE POSITIVE POWER OF THE DELHI VOTE. DID THE DELHI VOTER REALIZE WHILE VOTING THEN THAT HE IS NOT JSUT VOTING FOR AAP BUT ACTUALLY VOTING FOR THE LOKPAL, FOR BJP TO REFUSE TO HORSE TRADE, FOR VASUNDHARA RAJE TO STOP USING THE LAL-BATTI? I believe that our vote is too precious to be spent on just voting for the next government, that it should be instead used to vote for the next system of governance and politics, to cleanse India of the current filth. For decades we all believe that politicians divide everyone on caste, religion and region because that is the only way they can earn votes. For decades we have believed that nothing can be done about corruption in this country, both small level and big ticket. For decades, we have prayed to get one opportunity to somehow remove these flaws from India. We have this chance now; and we never know when it will come again. Irrespective of who is the next PM, the Indian progress will continue. It continued during Rao, during Gowda, during Gujral, during Vajpayee and during MMS. But if in this election the AAP wins 20-40 seats, if the Yeddys and Chavans are defeated, if honest non-divisive people are the ones elected, then we are sure that the 'system' will improve. Because our vote was not for or against a party, but against the old system. If Modi wins and AAP becomes a success, things will improve. If he does not win and is is a hung parliament, we are sure that the next election after one year will be a lot cleaner one, with a lot fewer corrupt and criminal candidates and lot more well-intentioned people who we truly deserve in the fray, and with perhaps an even humbler Modi who will finally have the humanity and character to apologise for his failure to protect people during the riots. Ultimately, I believe a vote for AAP will only lead to a better polity and future for the country.