The report, "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, and the statement made by the State Election Commissioner, Neela Satyanarayan that ' fair polls not possible as money, liquor flow freely' is a shame for our much-praised democracy. 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. 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 and the Election Commission should be empowered to debar any candidate who bribes the voters. Jaya Prakash Narayan had said long ago that the election is the Gangotri (source) of corruption and had advocated indirect election. 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. To ensure majority to the elected representative, a second ballot only with the top two within a week is another suggestion. Those who are interested in promoting democracy in the country have to come together to change the system. The election process has to be changed to restore legitimacy to our democracy.
http://epaper.dnaindia.com/epapermain.aspx?pgNo=3&edcode=820009&eddate=2012-2-14
February 14,202.
********
