If elections were considered the festival of democracy, the 2021 Bengal elections are not a festival we would be proud of; from election rallies with no adherence of COVID norms, to blatant violations of the Model Code of Conduct, here’s why this would be a festival India would want to forget.
On 26th February, the Election Commission announced that West Bengal would go into polls in 8 phases citing the need for better distribution of security forces for what they hoped would be a peaceful election; nearly half of the paramilitary forces requisitioned for the ongoing elections across five states have been stationed in West Bengal alone. Apart from this, the EC appointed over 209 general observers, 55 police observers and, 85 expenditure observers in Bengal, along with several Special Observers.
Despite this, the elections have been awash with controversies, ranging from an attack on the incumbent Chief Minister to the poll strategist of the ruling Government almost admitting that the opposition might get more votes; this is an election unlike any other.
While the Election Commission has been vested with enormous and all-encompassing powers to ensure free and fair elections, public faith in the institution is at an all-time low, a basic perusal of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) shows that polarizing voters on the grounds of religion is not permitted and, personal criticism of political leaders or, making disparaging remarks about their private lives is a big no.
However, all of this has been going on in broad daylight by political leaders cutting across party lines, while the Election Commission continues to be a mute spectator, waking up only after people were killed in Cooch Behar; after this, the Commission took prompt action but, wasn’t it too late by then?
Had the commission proactively banned provocative speeches and remarks that violated the MCC, families would not have been shattered today because the deaths are not the fault of the Central forces who fired in self defense; they are the fault of political leaders who antagonized the crowd.
The second wave of COVID-19 is proving disastrous for India; we are recording a massive spike in cases with the death toll increasing day after day. More than 1.72 lakh Indians have lost their lives due to COVID-19 to date.
Despite this, political leaders are holding rallies with blatant violations of COVID-19 norms, these rallies affect the people of Bengal the most, hardly anyone attending the rallies wears a mask, social distancing is virtually nonexistent; the Election Commission once again failing its Constitutional mandate has shot off letters to political parties, asking them to adhere to COVID norms but, these letters have had no effect. Bengal has recorded a 22x increase in its daily COVID cases and, a 400% increase in total COVID cases.
The Hon'ble Calcutta High Court, taking a grim view of the situation said that this callous and nonchalant attitude will not be permitted. It directed the Election Commission and the District Magistrates to ensure strict implementation of COVID guidelines in the remaining phases of the elections but, again I ask you the same question, is it not too little and too late?
It has been a sorry state of affairs and, the worst part is that half the elections (4 phases) are still left.
Today I am reminded of Mr. TN Seshan, the 10th Chief Election Commissioner of India, widely regarded as the man who cleaned up the Indian electoral system and, actually showed common people the power of the Election Commission. It is famously said, “politicians feared only God or T.N. Seshan”.
With Mr. Sushil Chandra being appointed as the new Chief Election Commissioner on 14th April, one can only hope that he ensures that the rest of the elections are truly free and fair because, with the blatant communalization of elections, a worsening COVID-19 situation, and the increasing number of deaths due to poll violence, the fact is that irrespective of whichever political party wins Bengal, it will be the people of Bengal who would have lost.
Comments