Assertion Of Citizenship through the Vocabulary of Rights: Who Votes and Why?

As the title of the paper evocates “Assertion of Citizenship through the vocabulary of Rights: Who votes and Why?” the prerogative is to analyze the election process in India by outlining the causes that make elections and voting in India sacred and what is it that makes Indian elections significantly different from those that take place across the globe? In context of this, the attempt of this paper is to map out the reasons that explain the participation of the poor in the electoral process. My paper having established the pattern of high voter turnout, seeks to establish a causal relationship between the poor and their dependence on the state. Bringing in arguments forwarded by Neera Chandoke and Yogendra Yadav , this section attempts to delineate the reasons that make the state central. The penultimate section shall focus on the determinants of voting: how does one decide whom to vote. This section will closely borrow from the debates of Tariq Tehchil, Suhas Palshikar, Yogendra Yadav and Mrityunjoy Mohanty. The article shall conclude with arguments that appear pertinent if one has to holistically gauge the functioning of the electoral process in India.