If the Election Commission (EC) cannot conduct the byelection for the Ramakrishna Nagar Assembly constituency in Chennai, can it be trusted with the conduct of a far more elaborate general elections? And, if it admits its failure to curb bribing of voters in a relatively small urban segment in Chennai, how much credence should one give to its claim of conducting free and fair elections in the country as a whole?
Even as criticism of an “inefficient” Election Commission mounts after its decision to rescind the RK Nagar byelection, there are uncomfortable questions being raised.
And, despite such elaborate arrangements, the Election Commission admitted its failure to prevent political parties – mainly the ruling faction of the AIADMK – from resorting to “innovative” ways to bribe voters.
Distribution of prepaid mobile phone recharge coupons, milk tokens, newspaper subscriptions and money transferred through mobile wallets were some of the ways employed to influence voters, the EC said while deploring political parties for subverting the democratic process.
But the Commission finds itself at the receiving end of criticism. A report in The Times of India on Tuesday quoted people complaining that the Election Commission delayed taking action against complaints. The report quoted VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan saying, “Initial reports of money distribution did not get due attention from the ill-equipped Commission, which allowed crores of rupees to be distributed before resorting to action. EC is a toothless body. It is good at only setting up booths, preparing electoral rolls and deploying EVMs (electronic voting machines).”
It also quoted former CBI Director RK Raghavan questioning the deployment of central paramilitary forces.
But the moot question is whether the Election Commission is losing the battle against money and malpractices.
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