I normally do not write very explicitly political posts despite believing that the Christian message is a very political one. I normally restrict my ramblings to more general issues. However, with the elections in Karnataka just a couple of days away, I have received many messages trying to persuade me to vote one way or the other. This post aims to address one particular type of message.

I’ll be quite blunt right at the start. I detest the BJP because it panders to people’s fears and stokes their hatred for each other. And so I will not be voting for the BJP. But you ask me to join the anti-BJP bandwagon and tell me that I should not split the anti-BJP vote. Have you considered for a moment what exactly you tacitly are admitting to?

Are you not saying that the candidate you would like me to vote for has actually not earned my vote? After all, if he/she had earned my vote, we wouldn’t be worried about splitting the vote! If a candidate had proved his/her mettle, we would not have to worry about him/her winning. And are you not saying that I should vote based on my dislike for someone (or some party in this case?) and not really based on who I think is best qualified to represent me? That is, after all, what the prefix ‘anti’ implies. The BJP rode into power in 2014 on the wave of a huge anti-Congress sentiment. Now you ask me to join the ranks of this anti-incumbency trend. When will we actually vote for something or someone rather than against? And are you not, like the BJP, pandering to fear and hatred? I don’t approve of most of their policies. But to vote because I am afraid of their policies is to vote my fear.

And think about this. If you vote for a Congress candidate, what are you doing? At the helm of the party is a fool. And anyone contesting on a Congress ticket is someone who has accepted a fool as his/her leader, someone who, because it was expedient, did not leave the party or call for a change of leadership. In other words, such a candidate is one without a spine. Do you think he/she will defend you when the chips are down? A person who accepts a fool as a leader and does not challenge the fool is not someone who will defend you if things get difficult. As soon as it is expedient to ignore or discard you, they will do it. And the history of the Congress party shows just this kind of expediency. They have never stood for anything with any sort of longevity that would instill confidence in their claims.

I will vote for ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA), because I don’t think any candidate truly has the guts to represent my best interests nor the best interests of the country. And I’m aware that doing this will split the anti-BJP vote.

But calling me to not split the anti-BJP vote and chastising me for advocating it is like accusing the victim of a crime. It is the political parties who have demonstrated a lack of vision, focusing on short term gains so that a nation that is overflowing with talent is still not a developed nation. It is they who have abused the power vested in them, giving lavish gifts and sops to their friends and allies rather than deal justly with every citizen. It is they who have fielded mediocre candidates rather than the best candidates for the job, approving the sycophants rather than those who are able to work for the betterment of the nation. It is they who have let the country down. It is they who have split the country along communal lines. It is they who have not given a uniform civil code for all Indian citizens. And yet you blame me?

I refuse to accept this blame. For I will vote my conscience. And I will not vote your fear.