... and almost ignore the candidate. Sometimes, if the candidate is a standout, may be I will think twice. But even then, a Lok Sabha MP will mostly be doing this - here is the party whip, vote yes/no on this bill.

My definition of a standout candidate is not about the qualifications and expertise of the person. A standout candidate, for me, is a person who is likely to influence or drive that party or coalition to get my local area or ideologies some mileage.

However, for the state elections, I vote for the candidate, and not the party. That is because, it seems thata good MLA can make a difference in his local area. But that is not the case for Lok Sabha MP.

1989 - Voted for JD (stupid enough to believe that VP Singh would be a refreshing change.  What a con job!).  Fed up with seeing Rajiv Gandhi constantly on TV. Also could not believe the fact that a man could ride a chariot in 20th century India and flame such hatred.  My first time to vote

1989 - Voted for Congress in Karnataka (Veerendra Patil was the CM briefly till he had the stroke). 

1991 - Voted Cong after VP Singh fiasco.  Still could not forget LKA's ridiculous chariot ride that promised to put us into medieval India.

1994 - Karnataka assembly - voted JD (yes!!!).  Could not forgive Rajiv Gandhi for backstabbing Veerendra Patil (who I thought was a good administrator - with my limited knowledge).

1996 - Voted Cong (thought that Narasimha Rao and gang had done a good job plus my new found fascination for liberalization and all its promise - had just finished my MBA from IIMCal and thought this was great!).  I could also never forget the sight of LKA raising his hands in glee as the Babri Masjid was demolished and the riots after that.

1996 - moved to Bombay.  1999 moved to Hyd.  Did not takeget m the trouble to enlist myself.  2001 moved to Singapore for 6 years.  I think I was there in 2004 and voted Cong (SM Krishna for CM again!).

2008 - voted for Cong in the state elections.  My bit to keep BJP out of our state.  Failed miserably. 

Never voted for BJP never will - they of Gujarat "experiments" as if we are laboratory animals.

Here are some past election voting patterns for Karnataka (VS and LS) from NDTV (public domain).

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/karnataka/lok-vid.aspx

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/karnataka/lok-vid-loksabha.aspx

Srivathsa

A high-profile campaign, funded by a flamboyant millionaire Tory donor Sir Paul Judge was launched this week with the grand aim of reducing the dominance of the three main organised political parties (Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats) by providing a platform for concerned citizens to contest elections as independent candidates on issues that directly affect the people. For more on that, click on:   http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/19/stories/2009031955520900.htm

Well, this was Gandhi's idea to begin with. Is it time to re-discover it in India too?

Muralidhar Rao

Hi Srivathsa,

It's really confusing the kind of fluctuation you have mnetioned in your "My Voting Pattern" i appreciate your view but would like to share some of the daring facts with you,

Riot cases recorded during other than BJP govt: 24000
The worst case of riot India faced during 1984 Sikh riots.

Anyhow coming to the facts on the national development,

Total of about 500KM 4-lane high way were there till 1998. During Vajapayee's govt roads were layed in the places where not even a unmetteled roads were there and all this were happenning at a speed of 11KM per day. And It had build 64000KM roads in the country. And India had not even single thing on which the loan was not taken but after the BJP govt India was with the 115Bn US dollar reserve and that is with one war against (Kargil) and even during the war India's economy was not damaged.

International Relations: Indo-Iran gas pipeline was initiated by BJP govt at the lowest cost in the international market but UPA govt with vote against Iran in UN has made India to pay almost 30-40% more for the deal.
Strategically India must have good relation with Nepal due to China but today not just good relation, India has the worst relation with Nepal and Nepal govt stresses on Chinease policy.
India's govt have failed to secure Indian nationals and respond toughly to extreamists which is showing Indian's death has no value. What is the Congress govt has actioned after Mumbai attack or recent past 5years of attacks on us? Any justification?

If we start discussing there are many things and which will not end ever. Just log in to the same NDTV web and check for the government works which will give you an eye opener.

But one thing what ever happenned post Godhra is never can be justified but same time what ever happenned in Godhra which sparked the riots also can never be justified. But leaving that today we have to think if country can grow better all this tind of things will be removed for which we need a govt which works.

Thanks

 

I am for BJP so far. Very happy that BJP for the first time set foot in Karnataka on their own. However now watching helplessly their antics of moral policing etc. I may have to vote for candidate in future. I am not sure. I wish the various parties do polarise to two major parties congress and BJP. Then perahaps things would have improved, from the present mess, that we are in.

PSA