Voting for self-interest

In State and municipal elections, Parsi voters should exercise their franchise intelligently

As informed citizens, in national elections, we vote, keeping in mind the national interest. However, in State legislative assembly elections and/or municipal elections, we take into account local issues. As a result, often there is an electoral swing even within a short period of time and the outcome of local elections, at times, differs from national elections.

Our Constitution details the powers exercisable by the Union of India, the States and certain shared powers between the two, called the Concurrent List. Hence, electoral considerations will also vary accordingly. In a secular democracy, is it legitimate to consider the interest of one’s community in exercising franchise? At first blush, a liberal democrat may find this repugnant. The right to vote is sacred and cannot be sullied by any considerations of caste, community or religion. That would be against the fabric of secularism.

On the other hand, this proposition cannot be examined in isolation. Our community, being minuscule in numbers, certainly requires extra protection. Our Doongerwadi lands, priceless, are hungrily eyed by property sharks. Our vast properties in the city are the envy of others. With a majority of Parsis being above 60, we have a disproportionately high number of senior citizens. Many of them reside alone and are vulnerable to being victims of violent crime. Our children find it increasingly difficult to compete for a place in educational institutions on a level playing field. We may have proudly rejected reservations earlier. However, the time is ripe to have reservations in medical, engineering and other professional courses. The B. D. Petit Parsee General Hospital operates on a shoestring budget and has acute cash flow issues. Our heritage sites like Udvada and Navsari require protection.

Politicians of all hues routinely claim to be friends of the community. These claims are often hollow. However, there are legislators who have genuinely furthered the interests of our community. For the last decade, they have furthered the community’s interest effectively by renovating Doongerwadi pavilions (did not go down well with the Fringe), cleaning water tanks in our baugs, donating ECG machines to our community medical centres and so on. More significantly, they are endeavoring to get reservation for Parsis in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

Parsis should vote for a candidate irrespective of their personal political affiliations, by subsuming them in the larger interest of the community.

The crossroads at which the community finds itself demands that we learn to vote in the community’s interest, at least, at the State and local municipal levels. This is routinely resorted to, even in more mature democracies.

-- Berjis M. Desai