NOTA isn’t the solution

By Sanjeeb Kumar Sahoo

Respected citizens of India, many people think I am a BJP supporter, others say I am a Congress follower, and yet others say I am a Samajwadi Party supporter, but the truth is that I’m with the people who are in need. As a political editor, I firmly believe that political journalism, like politics, is all about people and not about us.

Some have accused me of being too biased, which brings to mind a famous quote from a late British Conservative politician ,Enoch Powel who said, “For a politician to complain about the press is like a ship’s captain complaining about the sea.”  The meaning says that the sea controls the captain and the ship. In the same way, an honest press helps a leader stay afloat in politics. As I have always stated, I endeavour to live up to my words, and I will continue to support good politicians who advocate for those in need.

Similarly, women often say to their husbands, “You don’t love me like you used to.” But why do wives forget that when a woman enters a man’s life, he becomes more responsible and works harder for her than he did before?  A man works hard to ensure that his wife has everything she needs. That is why wives and children receive less attention from a man. Working harder than before and devoting less time to one’s wife are both signs of a man’s great love and his compulsion to work for the better future of his family. Since I believe in love and miracles, I’ve always tried to include some facts about true love experiences in order to share love with the world.

Respected readers of Indian politics, let us talk about this edition and its cover page featuring the BJP’s Sankalp Patra for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, whose 134th birth anniversary was commemorated across India on April 14, 2024. You are all aware that I always strive to give something extra and new in upcoming cover pages of the National Political Mirror (NPM) than the previous issue. I succeed in doing so because I spend hours thinking about the next unique idea.

In my opinion, anyone can write English, but writing a script or story requires a lot of brainstorming.

So, ladies and gentlemen, like I promised in my previous editorial and edition, I will publish the BJP manifesto with a wonderful headline on the cover page. I kept my word and created an excellent cover page with a catchy title on the BJP’s manifesto and Dr. BR Ambedkar’s 134th birthday anniversary. I have time and again mentioned that I did not start this weekly magazine to become a wealthy person or build enormous enterprises like others.

The reality is that I am passionate about political journalism, which is why I formed National Political Mirror to promote deserving politicians. It makes no difference to me if they are from the BJP, the Congress, or any other political party. NPM will continue to share positive news about politicians with the right intention.

Now, let’s discuss the political speeches made by politicians during the ongoing 2024 Lok Sabha Polls as well as in past elections. These speeches are widely accessible in the public domain. In my opinion, politicians should refrain from making speeches that could cause harm to any community or individual. Someone once said that with the power of persuasive language, you can capture the hearts of billions of people. Given politicians are always in public forums, they should be careful with what they speak in public.

It’s time to talk about city voters, because I’ve noticed that they only complain to one another instead of questioning their local elected representatives about their performance or report card five years after being elected as MP or MLA from their constituency. City voters spend more time gossiping than asking questions, and some have stated that they will vote for NOTA because they haven’t seen any work from them in five years.

Respected voters, I do not believe NOTA is the solution. Instead, you should ask questions and request a report card detailing what your elected representative did after being elected in your constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Is he running for the same seat again? If not, ask questions and vision from the political party that nominated the new candidate for the 2024 Lok Sabha and assembly elections in four states, rather than the one who was elected in 2019 polls.

If you are satisfied with his or her explanations and political party, then continue to vote for him or her. Otherwise, you can give other candidates a chance because you never know if he or she may have a better plan for your constituency than the last one who got elected from your constituency because of your voters. Therefore, I would like to suggest instead of NOTA, give new candidates a chance because change is always good and brings in competency and transparency in the system. Trust me!

Note: On April 14, 2024, this piece was originally printed in a weekly magazine of National Political Mirror.