DNA, an English daily has published a report in the front page with the headline, "Fits and starts to the final frenzy" (DNA,14/2/2012) which tells us that the candidates gear up to buy votes for Rs.1000 to Rs.2000. The next report is an interview with the State Election Commissioner, Neela Satyanarayan, wherein she helplessly states that 'fair polls not possible as money, liquor flow freely'. This is a shame for our much-praised democracy. The low turnout in Mumbai is another indicator of the public disgust of the present election system.
The State Election Commissioner told DNA that there is an unprecedented flow of money and liquor by parties to get votes. She blamed parties as well as the voters for the erosion of ethical values. During the interview there was a mention about Rs.1 crore found in a car during election campaign in Amaravati. Earlier DNA had reports of even housing society members assuring candidates bulk votes of their members in exchange for money or some facilities. There are reports of crore of rupees and liquor being distributed in Punjab.
When Anna Hazare questioned the legitimacy of our elected representatives due to the use of unfair means to get elected all the politicians and the constitutionalists questioned his thesis and some even asked him to fight the election. The number of crorepatis and criminals contesting the election seems to have gone up in the BMC election. If candidates pay to get elected, they would definitely recover with interest whatever they have invested and continue the saga of corruption. We do not know what these politicians and pundits have to say on the legitimacy of the present Mumbai municipal election.
It is time we, the people of India, demand change in the election process. Money power has to be curbed urgently and the Election Commission should be empowered to debar any candidate who bribes the voters. Lokanayak Jaya Prakash Narayan had said long ago that the election is the Gangotri (source) of corruption and had advocated indirect election. Liberal leader Minoo Masani believed in proportional representation.
Mahatma Gandhi was in favour of Gram Swaraj with power to levy taxes and use it with consensus for the development of village. This was sought to be done through the 74th amendment of the Constitution during Rajiv Gandhi's time but it has not taken even after so many years. Similarly, there was a Nagar Raj bill which envisaged elected area sabhas for each ward to oversee the functioning of the municipalities. This has not found favour with the politicians as their activities would be scrutinized by the citizens and it is not being pursued.
Another issue is about legitimacy of the candidate who wins with 25 % or 30 % votes. With so many candidates, a candidate without a majority gets the legitimacy as a representative. A second ballot only with the top two within a week is a suggestion made to ensure the representative elected by the people has a support of the majority in the constituency.
There are many ideas to reform the present system of election. Initiative to change the system is unlikely to come from our political establishment. The Election Commission, NGOs, Corporate leaders, think-tanks and the civil society representatives like Anna Hazare and Prashant Bhushan have to take up this issue before we become a banana republic with corrupt and criminal taking over the Indian Republic. The election process has to be changed to restore legitimacy to our democracy.
Whichever system is adopted it should ensure transparency and accountability. Corruption is the greatest menace to India and the Indian democracy.
February 16,2012.
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