ECI under scanner

 Without a doubt, the ongoing 2019 Lok Sabha election will probably mark the descent of Indian political narrative with the resurrection of divisive rhetoric and relying on messages that appeal to core constituency where those indulging in such hope to revive surreal fears and create a situation for polarisation. In comparison, the 2014 Lok Sabha election witnessed the promise of “sab ka saath, sab ka vikaas”, and development for all Indians. Back then, the media was more than fair by lending its shoulders to the BJP to fire at the then incumbent Congress-led UPA government. In 2014 the BJP told voters to forget its past and embrace its forward-looking campaign. This instilled great hopes among cross sections of Indians who wanted to believe Modi that “Achhe Din”, or good times, were around the corner. The BJP leaders’ stump speeches today are about the insecure present and a bloody past that must somehow be set right. Both BJP and opposition parties have done their worst in the present campaign compulsions to bring out the worst in Indian politics. Unfortunately, setting a new low, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had accused Rahul Gandhi of standing from Wayanad in Kerala because “Congress is now scared of Hindus”. This suggested that Rahul had deliberately picked a constituency where Hindus do not form the majority of voters. Such a statement coming from a prime minister does not behove of the prestige of the exalted chair. It may be noted that Waynad may be Hindu majority but the people of Kerala are liberal and against communalism. Hindus, Muslims and Christians live in harmony in Kerala. Modi probably sees things from his party’s agenda-perspective since he sought comfort from the fact that Varanasi was a predominantly Hindu constituency when he decided to contest from the constituency. Social media is full of queries about MCC violations and allegations of various parties, especially the ruling BJP, brazenly flouting the norms. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name figuring in several of these violations, the opposition believes that much of these are by design. Led by the prime minister, even several ministers have been blatantly making communal speeches. There was the use of the Balakot airstrike or images of Pulwama martyrs for political gains, or boarding passes and railway tea cups bearing his name or message, or the release of the biopic PM Narendra Modi and the launch of the NaMo channel in the middle of the polls. Indeed, there is no dearth of evidence of violation of Model Code of Conduct. On April 3, a lawyer and columnist tweeted how Modi’s election speech was telecast live by Doordarshan, which he said, was a violation of MCC. Rahul Gandhi had to ultimately apologise for contempt of court over his misinterpretation of Supreme Court ruling on the Rafale case in a case filed by BJP candidate Meenakshi Lekhi. In this regard, the Supreme Court has had to intervene in such cases. It is a matter of deep concern that opposition parties have lost total confidence in the impartiality of the Election Commission of India (ECI). As the ultimate arbiter of our elections, the ECI has a responsibility to dispose of election complaints as soon as they come in during the campaign period itself. When complaints are taken to court, it indicates how badly ECI’s credibility has been eroded.