It is finally Election Day today. It has not started out a murderously hot day; in fact the morning is reasonably cool and comfortable; not really like a May morning in Delhi usually is. Plus the weather prognosis for the day is not bad: the temperature is expected to stay in the upper 30’s without crossing over to the 40’s. It is the dust storms and the light showers that Delhi and surrounding areas have received that are keeping the heat somewhat under control. So elections in summer may not exactly be ideal, but weather wise things could have been a lot worse, so reason enough for all of us to go and cast our votes.

When they say that voting is our right and that we must exercise it; it is also a duty which we must fulfill.  If we cannot be bothered to brave a little sunshine and go cast our vote, then really we shouldn’t sit at home and whine about the country going to the dogs. If one is apathetic to the democratic process of the country then one really shouldn’t complain about bad roads, bad civic amenities, water supply, electric supply, etc, etc. Getting involved thru citizen’s activism would be ideal, but failing that, the very least we can do is go out and Vote!

The ‘Jaagore 1 Billion Votes’ campaign to mobilise voters and voting has met with quite a bit of success and the initiators of the campaign are happy with the response they have got for the campaign. An off shoot of the Tata Tea TV adverts, the Jaagore campaign has been a unique one where the youth make a statement in favour of democracy. Vandana Krishnan, the communications associate of Jaagore 1 Billion Votes, was quoted in the Times of India as saying, “In six months, six lakh people have registered online. We’re witnessing a growing awareness among voters. They understand that unless they work towards it, nothing can change. Educational institutions and people come up to us to offer help.” (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Entertainment/ElectionsBig-deal-for-Delhi/articleshow/4491507.cms)

Voter turnout has been low in the previous phases of the elections, in Mumbai it was less than 50%. The National Capital however can show people and way by turning out to vote in large numbers.  Let us all take the trouble, make the effort, let’s all go out and VOTE.

Remember, TALKING WON'T HELP, VOTING WILL!

For a Delhi weather forecast, go here: http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=zmw:00000.1.42181&hourly=1&yday=126&weekday=Thursday&MR=1