Why Dr APJ Abdul Kalam will be sorely missed during the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections

He is a role model not just for the youth of Tamil Nadu, but for youth all across India. Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has shaped many young minds and one of his most important contributions in the later years of his life is getting people to vote.

In 2011, 71% people in the state of Tamil Nadu were eligible to vote. This time, there is a 22% spike in the number of eligible voters - which means Tamil Nadu has one crore more voters than it did in 2011. There are six lakh first-time voters in this figure. 

For the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections in 2011, Dr Kalam was roped in as one of the icons by the Election Commission. A report released by the Chief Electoral Officer states that the former President was identified as one of the top three icons who influenced people to vote. So they decided to bring him on board to get people to exercise their franchise. The youth listened to him and felt he was contemporary in his thinking. The Missile Man of India became a father figure who was not only an intellectual, but could also speak their language and relate to them.

The Election Commission had got Dr Kalam to feature in a video where he spoke to the youth of the nation about voting. In fact, one of his slogans used extensively was, "Exercise your democratic right this time and every time. For your progress, for your welfare and your happiness never fail to cast your vote in elections."

Watch Dr Abdul Kalam speak on voting:

During the 2011 elections, the Election Commission also circulated a letter he wrote where he urges youngsters to 'Vote for the nation'. Dr Kalam stated in the letter, "You should select the best performing candidate, clean candidate and vote for them."

With regards to elections, Dr Kalam was also a major advocate of e-elections. In his book A Manifesto for Change, Dr Kalam speaks about elections in the time of the digital age. He writes in the book, "I visualize an election scenario in which a candidate files his nomination from a particular constituency. Immediately, the election officer verifies his or her authenticity using the national citizen ID (UIDAI/National Population Register ID/any other citizen ID) database. His or her civic status is reflected by the crime record with the police. His property record comes from the land authority; income and wealth sources from the income-tax department; education credentials from university records; employment record from various employers; credit history from various credit institutions like banks; and legal records from the judicial system."

He then goes to explain, "The election officer immediately decides on the candidate’s eligibility, and the election process starts. During the election, voters having mobile phone with their national ID can use a secured and authentic election mobile app to vote for the candidate of their choice in their constituency, besides the option of going to a polling booth." Dr Kalam wrote that the technology is available, but it is up to the leaders and bureaucrats to have this implemented. 

This time around during the Tamil Nadu elections, the renowned icon is not around to influence eligible voters to go out and vote. However, the Election Commission of India is leaving no stone unturned in trying to get each eligible voter to exercise their franchise. They have brought in film celebrities and cricketers to get a 100 percent voting percentage in the Tamil Nadu elections this year. As for e-elections, hopefully that will become a reality in the future across India.