Is Election Commission Functioning Fair Impartial?
The various actions of election commission are creating a doubt on the impartial and fair functioning of this constitutional organization.
Mumbai: The initial positive feel about the fair and impartial behavior of election commission in conducting the present elections started fading with the progress in the election process. The actions by the commission in some instances are contradicting their own actions whereas their inactions in other instances are inviting increasing criticism on functioning of the commission as a whole.
The hate speeches by UP leaders (from all political parties) have been dealt by the commission in a commendable manner. Initial reports regarding the hate speeches have been responded with notices from the EC. There was a follow up on the notices through ban on visit of those hate speakers from public meetings. EC was able to get a satisfactory explanation from BJP leader Amit Shah and granted permission for him to continue his campaign in UP.
Other leaders like Azam Khan could not send a satisfactory reply to the EC and hence he had to face the ban by the EC. The SP (headed by Mulayam) was quick to criticize the EC that it is not impartial. In the case of Giriraj Singh (another BJP leader) ensured the EC to issue arrest warrant against the leader. All these fair actions by EC are one side of the coin.
The other side of the coin invites severe criticism on various actions and inactions by the EC.
1) The hate speeches by KCR have not been noticed by the EC. People have a feeling that because of KCR’s understandings with congress the EC did not re-act in the required manner.
2) YSRCP (headed by YS Jagan) openly distributed cash, cheap liquor, jewelry and other valuables to voters. Despite prominent reports in press and media, EC could not find any wrong doing in the same.
3) Dinesh Reddy (MP Contestant on YSRCP ticket) entered one of the polling booths with his followers but there was no action appeared by EC.
4) EC was quick to declare Chandrababu Naidu’s vote ‘invalid’ because he made it open as to whom he casted his vote for. The CEC rectified this mistake of AP Election Commission.
5) Central Election Commission was quick, and faster than expected, to get FIR registered against Narendra Modi mentioning that he showed his party symbol after casting his vote.
6) Showing law & order causes, EC rejected permission to Modi to conduct ‘ganga aarti’. But the same district officials were able to grant permission to other leaders like Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi.
As the entire world is watching the election process in India, EC is expected to put better performance.
