Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Higher voter turnout this time' that was published in Newsband

Higher voter turnout this time

2014 Lok Sabha elections witnessed a significantly high voter turnout. One reason attributed to the higher turnout is the enthusiasm of first-time voters who came out in large numbers. It is clear that people of India want things to change.

The challenge for the new government would be to focus on the development of the entire country, especially when people all over India have expressed their faith in democracy. Whosoever forms the next government in New Delhi has a tough task to perform. One of the biggest challenges before the new government will be to instill a sense of security among the people and thus win their confidence.

The most interesting thing is that the people from Maoist areas have shown their faith in the election. This signifies that they have come to know that without government functionaries there will not be any development. If the new government succeed in bringing development in such areas then definitely the day is not far when we will see India free from naxalism.

A big credit should go to the mass media which has now reached every doorstep to make people aware about what the reality is. Another is people's self awareness, self interest to come out from the darkness what was imposed on them by oppressors like local naxals, extremists etc. People are no more willing to keep silent and they are now raising their voice for justice. The good examples are defiant voters in JK and other violence prone region. Thus we are on the way to become not only the largest but also a successful democracy in the world.

The current high turnout is an indication in the change in the wind, a symbol of the deepening faith in the democracy. Now keeping this faith intact is going to be a litmus test for the next government.

People have now come to realize that the ballot is more powerful than bullet. The new government should realize that development brings confidence and sense of security. Both are crucial for humans.

The biggest advantage of democracy is you can change the government which is not doing anything for you. The real democracy means that peoples have right to change a non-performing government in election. In such a case, voters must be fully educated and aware of their rights and duty.

This time, the people of TV channels had gone to remote villages where voters have only limited knowledge of what government is doing for them. But they are fully brain fixed to vote for a particular party in any case. Introduction of educational facilities in these remote areas will do a lot of good to these people. These TV channels also proved the fact that corruption is the main reason for non-performance of all government departments and agencies.

What the new government will need to do is to eliminate corruption and concentrate on development.