RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat cast his vote in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, participating in the democratic process on Thursday morning. He arrived at the polling station located in the Mahal area of Nagpur at around 7:30 am and was among the early voters.
After voting, Bhagwat spoke to the media about the role of democracy, civic responsibility, and the importance of voting. He said elections are the foundation of democracy and that every citizen must participate in them. He stated that voting is not only a right but also a responsibility that helps determine the direction of society and the country.
Bhagwat said elections are an essential part of democracy and that democracy becomes b only when citizens actively participate. He said people express their views through voting and decide who will represent them. He said he began his day by voting with this belief.
Appealing to voters, Bhagwat said they should vote thoughtfully and keep public interest in mind. He said choosing a capable candidate is important in any election and that voters should assess which candidate can work better for the development of society and the city. He said responsibility for making the right decision in a democracy rests with the people.
On the issue of NOTA, Bhagwat said it means rejecting all candidates. He said exercising NOTA can indirectly benefit a candidate whom people may not actually support. He said it is better to select a suitable candidate rather than reject all options.
He acknowledged that NOTA provides citizens the right to express dissent, but said positive participation is more important in a democracy. He said even if voters are not fully satisfied with any candidate, they should compare and choose the better option. He said abstaining from voting or opting for NOTA avoids responsibility and weakens democracy.
Former RSS Sarkaryavah and central committee member Bhaiyyaji Joshi also voted early in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections. He highlighted the importance of voting and said governments in a democracy are formed through public mandate, which emerges through elections. He said democracy becomes meaningful only when voters cast their votes.
Joshi said when people exercise their voting rights, expectations arise from the elected government to meet public aspirations. He said democracy is not limited to elections alone and that responsibility and accountability of the government after elections are equally important. He appealed to all citizens to vote.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections are considered significant in Maharashtra politics, as decisions related to city development, basic amenities, and local administration are determined through these polls.
In the previous Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 108 of the total 151 seats. The Congress secured 28 seats, the Bahujan Samaj Party won 10 seats, Shiv Sena won two seats, and the Nationalist Congress Party won one seat.
Voting is also underway for municipal body elections in other parts of Maharashtra. Polling is being held in a total of 29 municipal bodies. Authorities have made security arrangements to ensure peaceful voting and have appealed to voters to exercise their franchise without fear.
