Shiv Sena’s Uddhav Thackeray has challenged India’s electoral system following the Supreme Court’s remarks on mandatory voting. The party’s publication, ‘Saamana,’ responded to the Court’s push for democratic enhancement but criticized the current system as being under a “dictatorial and corrupt” regime. The editorial highlighted concerns raised by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Bagchi regarding the participation gap between urban and rural voters.
The Thackeray-led camp agreed with the Court’s observation on the voting paradox, emphasizing the lack of significant changes in turnout despite past electoral reform efforts. However, they questioned whether democracy could truly be strengthened solely through mandatory voting. The editorial pointed out issues such as declining Election Commission credibility, voter list confusion, manipulation of voting data, and EVM controversies, suggesting that the democratic process is losing transparency.
Shiv Sena stressed the need for a thorough cleansing of the election process to empower democracy fully. They advocated for a return to ballot papers over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and posed a direct query to the judiciary on this matter. The party criticized the ruling establishment for employing divisive tactics and accused them of stifling opposition voices, leading to a weakened democratic structure in the country.
The editorial concluded by expressing skepticism towards the effectiveness of mandatory voting in the current corrupt system. While acknowledging the idealism behind mandatory voting, Shiv Sena highlighted the necessity of addressing the alleged control of the ruling authorities over electoral machinery. The party emphasized the need for substantial reforms to ensure a truly democratic electoral process.
