Bahujan Vikas Aghadi sweeps Vasai-Virar polls

Results for the Vasai-Virar municipal corporation were declared on Monday, a day after the civic body saw its first election on Sunday.

The corporation was formed on July 3, 2009. The Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) led by Hitendra Thakur retained its hold over the region by bagging 55 of the 89 wards, as per the figures given by the State Election Commission. Mr. Thakur, a former MLA is close to the Congress.

The Lokhitvadi Leader Party of Mr. Thakur’s political rival Vivek Pandit came a distant second by winning 19 seats.

Other Seats

The Bharatiya Janata Party bagged one seat, the Congress two, the Shiv Sena three, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena one and the rest went to eight independents.

Total Tally

Five independents have vowed their allegiance to the BVA, taking the total tally of the party to 60.

The size of the Vasai-Virar electorate is 6,43,761 of which 42.79 per cent turned up to vote on Sunday. There were 378 candidates in the fray.

Protests

The region has been in the news for widespread protests against the government’s decision to include 53 villages in the corporation. The agitations to exclude the villages were led by Mr. Pandit.

With the final decision pending all the 53 villages also went to the polls.

Get Out and Vote!

Voting is a right which has been given by our Constitution and is very crucial for existence of a democratic set up. Unfortunately, half of the country’s population does not participate in this process. This is really a very sad approach on the part of the citizens. In some countries people are literally dying to be able to cast a ballot and make a difference. So my request to all of the concerned citizens to vote in the upcoming elections at any cost.

There are several other reasons to vote:

  • You should believe that every single vote counts. Governments have fallen and candidates have lost by one vote. So dont’t feel that your vote does not matters.
  • By voting you get the choice to choose the leaders. You decide whom do you want to lead.
  • Through voting you can express your opinion. Many of us want to convey what we feel about particular policy or how things should be. Voting is the best way to do that.
  • By voting you ensure that the candidate is made accountable to the public.
  • Voting is your national duty. If you vote then it shows that you are respecting the constitution of India.
  • If you get out to vote on election day, you can set right example for people around you. Let everyone know that you care enough about your homeland.
  • If you don’t vote you really have no right to complain about government decisions/policies you don’t like.
  • If you feel that each candidate is worst/corrupt/not eligible for vote. Go ahead and make use of 49-o and say “I Vote Nobody”. Else select best from worst.
  • The entire election process is based on ceratin arithemetics/calculations. After all it is just a number game. But if the voting percentage increases then let me tell you that only deserving candidates will be elected. It is only when we fail to vote, wrong people are elected.

This time around there are maximum number of young voters. Our past generation might not have voted but this generation needs to change the few things. A democracy is of no use when the government is of the people, for the people but not by the people.

There are few important topics looming over India which will decide our future. And the result of these policies will be inherited by the coming generation. The economic reforms, getting more digitalized, global warming, environment, fuel consumption, infrastructure, security, national integrity etc. It is very easy to be unconcerned about your right to vote and take a “whatever, who cares” kind of attitude about it. If you don’t vote, you effectively blow away your ability to have any influence as to how these issues should be sorted or how these issues will play out in future.

You will have to decide what you want to give to your coming generation. If you are taking voting for granted then just check out internet to find how many people have fought/died to get this weapon in several other countries.

Remember, People who don’t participate in political and democratic process are punished to be governed by the dumb.

You will have to vote this time. It is your right, responsibility and a weapon which you are being given. Now, Go out and Vote!!