Nehru on 'staffwork' and 'on foot to the polling booths'
We are aware that how much money is spent by all political parties during the elections. Numerous inducements are alleged to be offered to the voters to come to the polling booth and vote for the candidate of the party candidate. Expenditure in elections is a major issue and affects 'democracy'. But this was an issue even during the elections in 1937 ; before independence . Elections which congress won in most provinces. Jawaharlal Nehru was the main campaigner in the elections. Below is reproduced from the selected works of Nehru vol 8. Here he talks about 'staff work' by congress workers and also that the then congress did not believe in providing transport and food to voters in order to motivate them to come to the polling booths. Instead he advised that people should march in groups carrying the flag to the polling booths!!
On Foot to the Polls
Wherever I go, I find great enthusiasm for the cause of the Congress.
In the elections, enthusiasm and public meetings and demonstrations
are good, but more important for any big undertaking is staff work and
the careful working out of details. I find that little attention is paid
to this staff work by our committees. Mostly they concentrate on
demonstrations. This is not good enough and the first place should be
given to staff work. Some of the best workers in each province should
give up touring and sit at headquarters or visit places only for purposes
of inspections. Polling day arrangements especially must be fixed up
carefully. It must be clearly announced that the Congress cannot
make arrangements to carry voters by lorry or motor, nor do we provide
food as others do at the polling booths. The cry from us everywhere
must be, “On Foot to the Polling Booths". Let this be widely declared
and the rural voters should be encouraged to join parties marching
together from their villages with the national flag and singing national
songs and “On Foot to the Polls".
1.
Statement to the press, Fyzabad, 15 January 1937. The Hindustan Times,
16
January 1937.
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