𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 - 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝟴 - 𝗚𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝗖𝗜!
"Almost all Indians, certainly all who care for the country, are waiting for 2024 the way Indians once waited for 1947" - Kaushik Basu
So, I have done my voting!
First of all I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to ECI, for making this giant festival so seamless and smooth. It's not an easy thing to do in our massive country. If anyone don't feel like that, try arranging small family function with meticulous planning and execution.
Reaping 60 crore votes one by one at a time is an achievement by itself which is a commendable feat. But is also condemnable when a certain ignorant couched potato at pulpit abused ECI of its potential stating that counting 60 crore votes is a massive work as even his own state has more population than Germany. With so much manpower at disposal can't we count easier than Germany? Wish we had someone like TN Seshan or his immediate successors as CEC, who took a sticky lesson to Politicians, Bureaucrats and even Judiciary.
The voting journey to my hometown is a story by itself. The state run buses did not stop on the route as it got full at the Main Bus Stand itself. On the way, the bus got blocked by irate passengers, waiting for too long. I don't know how supposedly great administrators of TN are not running special buses from 11 PM to 4 AM in the Kilambakkam bus stand, spiking protests. The Political leaders who meticulously planned the campaign, lost out on the execution, compared to ECI. I hope the rulers treat this as cautionary voice rather vengeful one, resorting to suppress dissent.
The voting process was pretty seamless. ECI has provided online Booth slips which is commendable. The voting setup as such looks like science fiction movie with multiple devices and lighting gimmicks.
Guys! we are just answering a simple multiple choice question. Even with such gimmicks, there is no end to end verifiability with the touch-me-not slips. ECI reminds me of Vadivelu comedy with a Hotel bearer. He enquires on availability various niche cuisines like Sbring rolls, Sheek kebabs, Brain fry etc, as the restaurant seems high tech, only to be disappointed that he could only have routine stuff. He then elaborates on Uthappam preparation, a fermented pan cake made of rice and lentils, on how crisp it should be, decorated with onion toppings. The Server after hearing his long lecture, unenthusiastically shouts to the chef to cook an ordinary Uthappam for the "Stupid Sir", giving palpitations on futility of his wishes.
In my case, I could not even get a proper lunch as hotels were closed on the voting day. So, I messaged my wife, who will beat the Hotel Bearer in un-enthusiasm olympics, "Porridge Please!"
Somehow the dining err... polling episode reminded me of the glory and the emptiness of our own democracy. But, I was filled with pride. Maybe its gastritis or,
Maybe it's a gut feeling!