Needed: 'No Vote' switch on EVMs

(EVM = Electronic Voting Machine)

Like i said somewhere else in this blog, this is the election where hi-tech is at its highest level. The central elections last year saw the usage of SMS, media and cell-phones to a large extent by the parties. We were all mystified when we heard Vajpayeeji speaking to us (albeit in a recorded version) and asking us to support the 'India Shining' party. (Here is the opinion of our 'famous writer with an opinion on everything' on the campaign)

Well, this just got better with the recent state elections. What with party manifestos festooned on websites and the deft usage of captive media channels by both parties.

But this election will also be talked of as the one where the people were able to push back their opinions. Here is an example from Kerala. Also, we have Rediff.com's citizen reporters who are flooding the pages with their reporters.

We have hundreds of SMSs that are floating around and helping influence people's opinions. And these are not just the ones sent by the parties, but some crafted very interestinly to put thoughts into your head. Here is one that i got that was forwarded by a long-lost friend who must have found my number buried in mobile. It reads thus;

1 kg of rice at Rs. 2 per kg + colour TV - DMK
10 kgs rice free for all ration cards every month - ADMK
Free rice, free door delivery + Rs. 500 for grocery - DMDK
So nobody assures job for all. They want us to eat, watch TV and
sleep.
Thanmana Thamizhinamae Sindhiyungal (Think, Self respecting
tamilians)

Thought provoking, if you ask me.

A few days ago we watched the 'turncoat' Vaiko question how his former 'mentor' could provide rice for Rs. 2 per kg without begging from the central government, just days before his new ally announced a very similiar scheme. We read P. Chidambaram argue that rice at Rs. 2 per kg is possible. Intelligent and cohesive arguements, if you ask me.

But why did not these 'political luminaries' think of such simple logic.

The Thai Prime Minister was sent packing because thousands of people marked the 'no vote' column in the recent election. Can we do something like that here? Then after that what?