Who influences your vote: The party or the candidate?

Elections in the United States of America have a tradition; the Presidential election debates. To a certain extent, these debates influence the votes. The candidates get a chance to outline their manifesto and stance on different issues. This sways votes more than the Republican and Democratic parties’ ideology.

The situation is parallel in India. Voters across the country are influenced, or rather appeased, by the various parties. Seldom do voters look at the candidate that is standing from the party; it is enough that the party leadership is inspiring and effective.

This is not necessarily a malpractice. The party leadership does indeed have control over even the most popular and effective of representatives; in the current Central government’s case; the party leadership has control over possibly the most powerful representative in the country.

But more often than not, this mentality is used to send ineffective and immoral representatives in the government.

Professor Pratibha Naithani, an activist and a professor of Political Science at St. Xavier’s College, remarked, "Voting according to party ideology has been followed all these years, and it has been instrumental in sending criminals to Parliament; as no one bothers to see who is the candidate standing. This year, we should vote for the candidate; ensure that we know who we are voting for.”

A suitable argument to this would be that the representative would not get a say. The key decisions are always taken by the party leaders, who are succeeded by their relations.

Poonam Mahajan, daughter of late senior BJP politician, Pramod Mahajan, said in a recent interview, "When you are part of an organization, you have to align yourself with its goals. I agree with the BJP and its manifesto; hence I am a part of it.”

This is the belief of political party members across the country; they seldom have their own identity beyond the goals of the party. Thus they win, not because of their work and background, but because of the party that they extol. The BJP, especially, is rumoured to have such a party structure; where the newer representatives rarely get a say.

Of course, there are those who take both into account, and are usually left with 3 options; they vote for the lesser of the many evils, or go for the newly minted ‘None of the above’ option, or do not vote at all.

Srinagar based student, Iftikhar Hassan Samoon says, "I'm not going to vote, because I don't want to choose from violent, communal, corrupt and inexperienced candidates. The coming up election is nothing but a fine example of dirty politics, yet again."

Yet, if the context was not taken into account; if the party leadership did not have an iron grip on the representatives, Indian politics may just transform. The candidate would be closely vetted by the voters; his background and policies would be questioned. This would result in a better Parliament.

There is a solution to this; independent candidates. They have no party rules to conform to, and their background is outlined in their manifestos; it is why people vote for them. Independent candidates could revolutionize Indian politics, if only they were given a chance. Unfortunately, in a nation where 25.96% of the population is illiterate; independent candidates are not considered important.\

Meera Sanyal was recently quoted saying, “ We need to focus on issues”. The question is, who do you think will do this better — the party or the candidate?