Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Election 2009

In the event of the elections throwing up a hung Parliament, the Congress and the BJP should join hands to form a government in the best interest of the country. It will be disastrous if regional parties are allowed to dictate terms to the Congress or the BJP in government formation and, later, in policy matters. It is the bitter rivalry between the two national parties that has led to the mushrooming of individuals-based political parties.

Sunita Jha,

Noida

Coalition governments are the order of the day. The unethical demands made by the smaller and regional parties on the major parties constitute a major problem for the polity. The survival of governments thus formed also depends on their satisfying the demands made by the smaller parties from time to time. In the circumstances, cannot the BJP and the Congress come together on the basis of a common minimum programme and save the nation from descending into chaos?

V. Murali,

Chennai

Looking at how politicians are criticising one another no holds barred, and the use of money and muscle power in spite of the best efforts by the Election Commission, one is left wondering whether we deserve a democracy at all. Electioneering has reached its nadir. Half the time the politicians use foul-mouthed words, and the other half they spend justifying or defending their words and action.

K.R.A. Narasiah,

Chennai

The voter turnout has so far been less than 60 per cent. People from rural areas have shown a greater interest in voting than those in cities. But development first takes place in the cities, which means people who are not interested in voting and participating in our democracy are getting the benefits of development. It is important to find the causes of low turnout and educate the people on the importance of voting.

A.P. Sukesh,

Bangalore

The low turnout in general is a matter of pain and concern. Is the voter apathy the result of the feeling among many that they cannot influence the outcome or is it that they have better things to do on the special holiday? The percentage of voting should go up significantly, and there should be some way of making this happen. The Election Commission, political parties and the intelligentsia should ponder over the issue and find ways of increasing people’s participation in the democratic process, and thereby add value to the system.

M.S. Kunchitham,

Chennai

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