10 Characteristics to Consider While Voting

Election fever is in the air. Every leader, local and national is working hard to make us citizens think in their favour. With so many options to choose from, how do we decide who to vote for? Our vote at the local level, will ultimately decide who will lead the nation. Considering a few critical factors when choosing who to vote for, can make all the difference in the nation’s and consequently our future. Here are 10 points to keep in mind when deciding who to vote for..Nation first: People who, when making decisions, put the nation first, their political party second and themselves/their family, last. They work for the nation’s development and promote its culture and interests when dealing with other nations.Integrity: Their life is a blend of honesty, consistency and ethics. They walk the talk. A person with integrity commands the trust of the citizens.Leadership: They are persons that you can look up to and learn from. They inspire us to do better and work hard.Vision: Without a clear vision, we don’t know where we are headed. Visionary people are inspired to imagine a better future and have a clear destination for the nation.Roadmap: They know exactly how to make their vision a reality—what needs to be done, how it is be done, the timeline and so on.Past performance: Do a little research to find out how they’ve performed in the past in whatever role they’ve played at whichever level. It will give you a very good idea about whether they can deliver as promised.Courage: Decisive, they dare to aim high and work towards seemingly impossible goals. They have the strength to face adversity and unforeseen calamities.Culturally rooted: They are proud of their heritage and culture and leave no stone unturned to preserve and promote their culture.Antyodaya: They are connected at the grassroots and their vision, work and policies are all-encompassing and in the interest of all, right down to the last person - the weakest citizen.Go beyond the individual to look at the party and its leadership. It is better that a lion leads a flock of sheep than the other way around. A mediocre candidate may be made to perform by a dynamic leader. On the contrary, if a country is led by a clown, even good local leaders will not be given an opportunity to perform.