We asked you to tell us your reason for choosing not to vote. This is what our readers shared.
Sreedhar S, 51, from Bengaluru shares, 'I chose not to vote ever since I became a eligible voter.
'I proudly submit that I'm serving the causes of democracy by not voting, and implore all others to not vote and defeat this vicious system of electocracy in this country.
'The elections do not hold any real good for the welfare of Indian people and only provide the 'cheap thrill' of participating and getting your thumb inked in repeated elections.
'Elections are a drag on governance which has been relegated to oblivion, and they privilege a select few with the discretion to loot and perpetuate their family rule, feudal style.
'The system is now reduced to a rather bizarre avatar of feudal rule, but masquerading as democracy.
'And in a system where victory or loss margins are in thousands and lakhs, my democratic responsibility has rather shrunk or remains non-existent.
'While most Indians cry hoarse over this glorious democracy that we have inherited, the facts and figures of the quality of life that this so called democracy gifted to the people of this country presents a sordid picture of sorts.
'In almost all indices that have come to characterise modern life, India even lags behind sub-Saharan Africa, and it's not clear whether there are any changes in the offing to make it a middle-income country (by GDP, PPP, etc) in the next 50 years.
'All we are left with is elections after elections, with both politicians and news channels treating it like a sport.
'That governance has been a serious casualty in this 'sport' called 'elections'.
'Post the elections, if there is a hung verdict, there will be horse trading and crossing over to the other side, thus belying the voter's faith. All these dishonest acts are justified by cliches such as 'in politics anything is possible'.
'From the beginning of our so called 'democratic' governance, it was clear that democracy without periodic structural reform and without checks and balances for human follies will lead to making a mockery of democracy itself.
'The Westminster model always throws up the possibility of a plethora of parties whose aims have now degenerated into contesting and winning elections, and then using that power and influence to amass illicit wealth and start scheming to win the next election.
'In a way, this becomes a perpetual game with the original purpose of elections for governance almost completely lost on the elected.
'The framers of constitution must be turning in their graves seeing the polity becoming humongous corrupt elite in 25 years time and converting itself to mostly dynastic family parties having a criminal nexus with businessmen, bureaucracy and the judiciary.
'After Independence in 1947 and a republic in 1950, India had her own constitution that borrows from the 'finest' of the then available democratic constitutions including USA, Canada, Britain, France and Ireland.
'The Indian constitution ever since has undergone over 100 amendments, which means on an average almost one amendment per year of 70 years of independent India!
'In comparison, the US constitution has changed only 26 times in 200 years of its existence, which goes to show its 'ruggedness' and utility with which it has served the American people.
'In India, there really are no checks and balances or constitutional mechanisms to urgently implement reforms, but there are enough loopholes built in to help the culprits who fail this country.
'One glaring example is the slow pace of reforms including right to recall, which would have helped instill some discipline on the elected members.
'Since the same rogues gallery keep contesting this 'sport' called 'election', they seem to coalesce into a kind of mutual help privileged club, whose entry is restricted or a steep climb has to be made by way of playing dirty politics for anyone aspiring to be in politics.
'In effect, politics is a theater for the scum of this country to ply their trade, but we are still treated to this charade called 'largest democratic elections' and allied terms to believe in this farce of a democracy.'
Gautam Saikia, 40, from Bebejia Gaon in Dibrugarh shares his reasons for not voting.
1. Pathetic condition of roads in my area.
2. I don't think the candidates contesting in my area are qualified enough to get a monthly salary of ₹1,00,000 along with other allowances. I can't imagine how the people in my area are okay with candidates earning around ₹60,00,000 in five years by just sitting ideal in parliament.
Prasenjit, 34, from Kolkata shares, 'I voted just once in my life, and after that I felt like the biggest fool in the world.
'India is a pseudo-democratic country without any prevalent law and order.
'The election process is a farce, where you are forced to choose the least corrupt or undeserving candidate. Everyone knows that whoever comes to power will try to build their fortune.
'They (the politicians) are so hungry for power and money that they have made NOTA useless.
'I don't see any point in voting because whoever I choose, my condition or the infrastructure of the country is not going to improve.
'It's like you will vote to make someone powerful and wealthy but your suffering will continue.
'Politicians can make promises to bring back black money, deposit money into every citizens' account, improve the law and order, remove corruption, but after winning the elections, they will say that it was a electoral joke and we are fools to believe them. There is no accountability.
'There are others who will continue to please a particular section called the minorities, increase reservation without any care for merit.
'All these political parties have anti-social elements to help them rig the elections.
'Before and after coming to power they will continue to terrorise the society, indulge in extortion and land grabbing.
'The police force are mere puppets of these political masters, and they will refuse to help if they don't get a bribe.
'In courts too, the victims are the ones who suffer and the case drags on for years, sometimes for a lifetime too.
'That is why I feel we should not waste our time voting and let the whole world see the absence of democracy in the so called largest democracy.'
