The other day when I met some of my professional colleagues and found them reacting to the recent election guidelines of the Institute (ICAI) whereby the ICAI has put several restrictions on expenses and the number of meetings a candidate can hold, I noticed a mixed response:

1. Good! we shall not be disturbed so much any more.
2. The entire charm of the elections is lost
3. How do you vote for somebody without meeting him even once? How does somebody meet so many members in the profession with in such a short time span and with so many budget restrictions?

It was difficult for me to counter-react. I could not make out whether our members are at all concerned with the quality of leadership at the institute level. I could also not make out, why at all we act so irresponsible and give zero importance to our right to exercise our franchise. I would like to deal with this matter in three different shades namely:

I. Rationale of voting
II. Leaders point of view
III. Member point of view

I feel voting is important because:

1. Democracy produces good results only when every entitled person participates.
2. To vote is a franchise because it gives freedom to choose and not because it gives freedom not to choose. To not to choose is to shy away from one’s duty. Thus they are themselves responsible for their marginalisation
3. Unlike other political platforms, where voters comprise of people from all the walks of life, we have members with an ensured level of knowledge and capacity to identify the talent. Thus these elections do not carry the stigma of an educated man voting for an illiterate.
4. There is a divide between thinking pattern of the members in practice and members in service. Due to poorer representation of members in service issues concerning them do not come to limelight.
5. The profession is no more recognized solely for its monopolistic attest function. There it faces competition from other professionals as well. Only good lobbying can get the profession its due share in that pie.
6. Only strong leadership can steer the profession through and let it maintain its distinct identity in this difficult time.

A leader may have some grudges against the members or may expect the members to interact in a particular manner:

1. Membership to the Council or Regional Council of the Institute is not a political post. Yet, a thorough and a dedicated professional can hardly contribute, unless he/she knows the tenets of politics. We are all thorough professionals and we do understand some tenets of politics as well, still we shy to come into limelight.
2. We do not see a contesting fellow member in high esteem. We often show either our disinterest in the process or seek to identify some ulterior motive behind the candidature.
3. As members, we should encourage those who are desirous of contesting elections. We should enthusiastically support a genuine candidate so that his spirit remains high throughout the process.
4. We should realize this fact that the council’s term of three years and chairman’s / president’s term of one year are not sufficient to achieve miracles and it is only sufficient if the new incumbent in the office keeps the fire burning.
5. Members should provide support and respect to the elected representative and keep him motivated. Criticism and undue expectations disturb the tranquility of an elected members, who already exists under tremendous work pressures. This is often a reason why our leaders seldom perform.
6. Members should provide support and respect to the elected representative and keep him motivated. Criticism and undue expectations disturb the tranquility of an elected members, who already exists under tremendous work pressures. This is often a reason why our leaders seldom perform.

The members will accept a leader naturally if he has some important traits:

1. A strong leadership is a must to bring about a change in the outlook and attitude of the profession. In this constantly changing global scenario, only visionaries with strong will and resources at their command can help the profession maintain its dignity, respect and independence.
2. The charm of power attracts even opportunists. How can one distinguish between the two?
3. There is no established methodology to test the credentials of a candidate. With watertight time schedules, it is all the more difficult to give it a try.
4. Even those with established credentials need to give way to the new breed of leaders in order to meet the velocity of change.

In the above shades I have tried to analyze the rationale of elections with the point of view of the members and the leaders.

There are reasons for good leaders not to come forward and there are reasons for members to criticize and show disinterest in exercising the franchise.

But the ultimate solution lies only in exercising the franchise.

I shall share my personal experience:

The moment I exercise my franchise, my conscience takes over my mind and in split of a second, I keep aside all influences, references and promises. My first preference automatically goes to the candidate who I personally feel is the most deserving.

That is the time when I feel pride in fulfilling my duty towards my profession. There are no doubt many who think alike and always, without fail, make it a point to exercise their franchise – be it the case of election of members to the Council and Regional Councils of our Institute or general elections. The ensuing election on will also see almost all our members exercising their franchisee on December 15-16, 2006.

The above is personal experience of and shared by CA. Anil Kumar Jain, Past Chairman, NIRC of the ICAI. CA. Jain is presently NICASA Chairman.