Nagpur: Describing elections as the foundation of democracy, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday urged citizens to exercise their right to vote, calling it the foremost duty of every citizen. He was speaking to the media after casting his vote in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections.
Bhagwat said active public participation is essential in a democracy and voters should carefully choose candidates who they believe will serve public interest. He emphasized that citizens should make it a priority to cast their vote early on polling day.
Highlighting ongoing efforts to boost voter turnout, he noted that appeals are consistently being made by the Election Commission and other agencies to encourage people to step out and vote. Bhagwat added that whatever the election outcome, it should be accepted as part of the democratic process.
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Clarifying his views on the ‘NOTA’ (None of the Above) option, Bhagwat said rejecting all candidates effectively increases the chances of an undesirable option winning. While NOTA may reflect public dissatisfaction, he cautioned that a situation where “no one” is chosen is more harmful to governance. Citing the example of Bhishma Pitamah, he said anarchy—or the absence of leadership—is the worst possible state.
Meanwhile, voting is underway today for 29 municipal corporations across Maharashtra. Elections are being held for a total of 2,869 seats, including Mumbai, with over 15,000 candidates contesting and testing their political fortunes.
