Arappor Iyakkam urges citizens not to accept money for votes

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-09-08 04:58:15 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-06-26 20:09:32

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Votes-for-cash has been plaguing Indian democracy for years, but citizens' collective frustration with this corrupt practice has culminated in concrete action thanks to a unique campaign by Tamil Nadu's Arappor Iyakkam. The organisation, which champions transparency and accountability in governance, launched a campaign to raise awareness and persuade citizens to refuse to participate in the buying and selling of votes.

The group completed its tenth year in 2025, and its campaigns over this period have focused on developing a system to fight corruption in politics and bureaucracy through legal, policy, and grassroots interventions.

"Arappor Iyakkam was established in 2015 with the aim to address issues at the grassroots level through a mix of methods, including public advocacy, evidence-based research, and media initiatives, to name a few. Our campaign to end the practice of buying and selling votes is just one of our many initiatives to strengthen our democratic processes and promote civic participation," said Arokiasamy Jeyakumar, founder of Arappor Iyakkam to reporters.

The organisation has redoubled efforts to ensure that the upcoming State Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are free and fair. The campaign is also a reminder of the values of democratic participation and systems that underpin a vibrant democracy.

"Democracy is not just about voting; it is also about feeling a sense of ownership towards the electoral process and exercising an informed choice. We want to ensure that voters are not alienated from the political process because of the corrupt practices of a few," added Arokiasamy.

Arappor Iyakkam's novel approach to boosting civic literacy and empowering citizens to resist petty corruption underscores the importance of grassroots action in strengthening India's democratic institutions.

This resonates with the broader public, political, and social impact of such campaigns. These kinds of initiatives help restore citizens' trust in the government and inspire them to take action to improve their society.

As the organisation celebrates a decade of fighting corruption, its innovative campaign to dissuade citizens from accepting money for votes is a reminder of the power of civil society organisations to inspire tangible change.

It will be interesting to watch how this campaign impacts the State Assembly elections and whether it will inspire similar campaigns across the country.

End with a quote from the founder of Arappor Iyakkam or a statement outlining the importance of campaigns like these in reinforcing India's democratic foundations.

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