How to decide which CANDIDATE to VOTE for

by
Daya Sagar
The other day during an awareness programme a student of a local college asked, “ Sir, it is true that we should vote for a good candidate during elections to Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha , but question is how to find out the best candidate out of the lot ?” The question appeared so simple but surely it was not so easy to reply. I applied my mind to the question and have identified some key indicators that could be used as reference points. Depending upon the vastness of the constituency the voter citizen can draw out opinions based upon the information immediately available locally, through media, through friends and relations . Ofcourse th educated voter citizen could help other citizens too by providing the information available.
Is the election for Lok Sabha or Vidhan Sabha or a Local body.
Is there any issue under reference of prime national interest to be considered while selecting the party / candidate .
To which political party the candidate belongs :
4. Is the party a national party or regional party or candidate is contesting as an independent:
5. What has been the general agenda of his party in the past; What is the ideology of the party.
6. How nearly the party has in the past stood to its slogans and social commitments:: Compare the performance on earlier manifesto test for likely success of new manifesto
7. How far the party has not used religion/ region/caste for vote bank politics in the past keeping in view the VOTE numbers of community or takes care of even the miniscule communities.
8. What is the level of internal democracy in the party. … Is the candidate selected with the choice of lower level party workers or the candidate has been thrust on the party.
9. Does the party often induct wards of rich people or elite leaders directly at senior positions :::::: how easy it is for a rich /uneducated criminal / anti social element to find a power seat in the party
10. Does the party often encourage defectors from other parties for induction at senior levels or opens its door to habitual defectors. Has the party ever ruled in the past with majority or has been the part of some coalition Government / body…… what has been the behavior and performance
11. Has the party frequently changed alliances…Does the party ignore national issues as a priority over local issues ?
12. What is the educational qualification of the candidate……
13. How often he is found regularly fighting for the cause of poor, backward and educated people before the elections , particularly after having lost an earlier election.
14. Is the candidate free from rigid caste or religion or sect based considerations.
15. Since how long he is working independently or with a party for the cause of the common man.
16. Does the candidate belong to elite class ( materially rich) and if so since when he is moving amongst the masses distantly placed as regards their economic activities / social status.
17. What has been the general impression about the candidate in the locality / area/block/district/region or as you could gather from your seniors or elder members of the society.
18. Since how long the candidate is with his present party. How many times the candidate has changed his party.
19. Has the candidate been in the past with a party that is number one enemy of the present party of the candidate.
20. Has the candidate earlier contested Vidhan Sabha Election, did he win, did he change loyalties.
21. If Contesting for Lok Sabha, did the candidate win a Vidhan Sabha election less than 6 months earlier or If Contesting for Lok Sabha / Vidhan Sabha , did the candidate lose any Vidhan Sabha election contested less than 12 months earlier on same party ticket.
22. Was the candidate in Government service earlier…..did he retire in normal course or took premature retirement ( why)…has he retired in the immediate past or about 2 years earlier. What reputation did he enjoy while in Government service.. Was he/ she ever given premature retirement by the government …….
23. What has been his source of income before filing the application ? … was he tax payer
24. In case the candidate has earlier also remained a MLA or MP, what was his profession and source of income before contesting his first election…what are his present sources of income as well as of his immediate relations/ sons/ wife/ brother .What were their earlier sources of income before he was elected first time
25. How many times did he change a political party in past and why
26. He/ She was a member of which party 6 months prior to his present party…was he a MLA / MP from some other party earlier than filing present nomination as Independent or on a party ticket ?.
27. Has he recently defected from some other party for the reasons of denial of a ticket.
28. Which new businesses the contesting candidate had started in partnership with some other rich people just after one year of his getting elected last time.
29. In case a economically rich candidate aged 40 years or more has joined a political party that has in the past held reins of power , find out what was his/ her general procession for earning money while he/ she was from 25 to 40 years of age.
30. What are the trade practices performed by his / her nearest family members and friends
31. How many family members / first relations / friends of the Candidate are working as regular contractors or supplier to government and what is the reputation they enjoy.
32. How many children / wards related to the candidate were studying in private boarding schools before he first became a MLA or MP…. And how many are now studying in high cost public schools and private professional colleges.
33. What are the agencies / high value contracts / approval for setting restricted institutions/ education institutions the candidate had secured after he became a MLA /MP for the first time.
I would request all those who may like to participate in this exercise to suggest any other reference indicator or any modification in the indicators mentioned above to help a prospective Voter Citizen.
(* Daya Sagar a senior coloumnist and social activists…. Email-dayasagr@yahoo.co.uk www.alookthroughthemist.blogspot.com