Why the educated class need to BELIEVE and VOTE

India with a population of 1.2 bn, has a voting population of 800 mn, of which 700 mn are registered.

In 2009, UPA came back to power with only 58% nationwide voting (this is average turnout since independence: Source: Wikipedia). Remaining 40% of registered voters (or 50% of eligible voters) is what are called politically apathetic populace.

Of the total eligible population…50% DO NOT VOTE. Top reasons being…

1.       I’m a ghost :: “I don’t have a voter-ID card K“

2.     The workhorses :: Who will finish my chores?

3.       The Yo-class! :: “Voting ain’t fashionable…dating is…or POLLDAY is a HOLIDAY…zzzzzzzz”

4.       The pessimists (or probably realists till last elections) :: “My single vote can’t change anything!!” / "Sab chor hain"

For the 50% people who DID vote…their top reasons were:

5.       Uninformed sheep :: I’ll vote for whom my friends/family is voting

6.       Optimist :: I gotto vote for my country, even if it means choosing lesser evil of the lot

7.       Financially Poor :: I’m promised Rs. 100 to a Aakash Tablet

8.       Mentally Poor :: I need reservation/subsidy/vote for candidate of my caste/religion

If the Spread of 800 mn people (equivalent to no. 80) is considered as follows based on their financial situation:

Poor: Lower: Middle+Rich = 20:28:32

As per The Hindu blog, rural & lower middle income group is more politically involved in India than the proverbial 'comfortable' group. Hence, It is reasonable to deduce that…

A. Of 48 Poor+Lower

16 drop out – mainly because of 1 or 2
30 vote for reasons 5, 7 & 8
2 vote for reason 1

B. Of 32 Middle+Rich

24 drop out – because of 3 and 4

6 vote for 5 & 8

2 vote for 6

The RESULT: While a majority of this “apparently comfortable yet opinioned” class (37.5%) remains politically non-participant or self-centered; a handful of 'Polluticians" play separatist politics, mislead the gullible, Poor+Lower (37.5%) and create their own vote banks, constituting of 45% of eligible population (36/80) and 90% of participating voters (36/40) - (14.5 {INC} + 9.0 {BJP} + 2.5 (CPI) + 1.5 (TMC) +Others)

Immediate step: Adding 24 of the non-participating middle-class suffering from 3 & 4 & swinging uninformed 4 by educating those suffering from 5 & 8, the blessed ones could be increased from 10% to 50% (4 --> 32 out of 40 -> 64) .

Subsequently; Improve the lot of those suffering from 7 & educate those suffering from 5 & 8, to make it to 60% -> 70% -> 80% of those who are blessed with 6.

To compete, the ‘Polluticians’ will need to

Spend more money to get more people suffering from 7

give up their vote-banks and join hands, even to gain simple majority, which will not be acceptable to those suffering from 8. So…BOOM

Phrasing otherwise…

Of the eligible voters, India has an educated middle class population of 300 million (38%), living comfortably, which is educationally equipped enough to process information available through print and electronic media and understands the good and bad for this country. This middle class gives priority to good governance over religious & caste-driven politics, and more importantly, their vote, can’t be bought or misused, IF CAST.

The CATCH: 80% of this populace, falls under the category of 1-4 above (mostly 2 & 4) – constituting 30% of eligible voters.

The HOPE: There is still Category-6 which perhaps forming only 5% of eligible voters are lighting a hope.

ACTION NEEDED : 5% to join force with this dormant yet likewise populace of with this 30% & swing another 5% to sweep elections with easy majority of 50%.

CONCLUSION: If this 35% of comfortable middle class ends its political apathy, register for voter-ids, research for political agendas/alternatives, get their lazy asses out of their house on Polling day believing in the power of its vote, and vote for the right candidate…rest assured, the handful people misguiding the 45% of populace and breaking their votes to rule & loot the country will find it impossible to match the nos.

If only the educated class BELIEVE and VOTE for the right people in 2014, a change will not be a miracle, but a natural outcome.