Essay on “An Election Scene”
Introduction-India is the biggest democratic country in the world. It is next only to America. In a democratic country, elections are of great importance. The government of a democratic country is formed of the people elected by the people.
In India, general elections take place after every five years. Citizens above 18 years of age have rights to vote.My personal views-As a non-party man, I wanted that all elections should be held in a fair and fearless atmosphere. I do not remember any things of the previous elections. But I can recall almost everything of the last general elections in our country.
In my constituency there were eight candidates in the field. The congress candidate was an ex-minister. The communist party had set up a strong candidate. The third candidate belonged to the Janta Dal; the fourth to the BJP and the fifth to the Lok Dal. Besides them, there were a few rebels of different parties seeking elections as independent candidates.
The supporters of every candidate moved from door to door. Big wigs of all the parties had visited the constituency and held several public meetings. Election canvassing--Weeks before the election canvassing began, the different political parties took out processions and organised meetings to place their programmes before the public.
The candidates and their supporter went about in rickshaws and tongas filled with loudspeakers, showing their slogans, pamplets and handbills were freely distributed and stick upon walls. As the day of the election approached, the canvassing gathered momentum.
The candidates now began to go from door to door for canvassing. Preparation began- A day before the election, elaborate preparation began at the polling station. It was divided into three polling booths by tying bamboos wherever necessary in every booth a curtain was hung in one corner.
Two tables were also arranged at fixed places in everybooth. I was told that Ballot Boxes would be behind the curtain and the tables and chairs were to be used by different polling officers.
The election day drew nearer and nearer. Every arrangement for holding the election was made. Pooling booths were set ready. Many cars and jeeps moved from one village to another. Every candidate was working very hard. The contest was keen. It was difficult to say who would win.
Every candidate was highly resourceful. But the Congress candidate managed to steal the show at most of the places. The election day-On the election day everything was peaceful in the beginning. But the rush of voters went on increasing. In the mean time some political parties tried to create trouble.
So the voters become restless. Some of them ran away in fear. But the situation was controlled by the timely arrival of the police party. The polling of votes started, though some trouble makers were still active.
Conclusion-A very interesting feature of the election was that ladies were more active this time than ever before. Those women who generally lived within four walls of their houses were also seen at polling booths. They awaited their turn for hours.
The election, however, was over at 4 p.m. The worst thing that we found in the election was the role of casteism. Political parties were responsible for this thing. It is, indeed, very harmful for the success of democracy. And the election scenes are as fresh in my mind even today as the music of the Solitary Reaper was in the heart of William Wordsworths : “The music in my heart I bore Long after it was heard no more".