The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : "Remaining above the fray"

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Saturday, May 14, 2005

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Opinion - News Analysis

"Remaining above the fray"

In a letter to The Hindu , Anand Kumar, Deputy Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India, New Delhi writes:

"I have been directed to invite your kind attention to the wrong impression conveyed through the editorial `Remaining above the fray' appearing The Hindu, Delhi Edition, dated May 10, 2005. In this editorial it has been mentioned that `Over several general elections, the Election Commission has acquitted itself extremely well and may well come through the latest episode — similar charges were made when in a moment of unexplained zeal, it sought to find out why the people were voting repeatedly for the CPI(M)-led Left Front in West Bengal but abandoned the exercise — with little damage to its credibility.'

"The Commission, to set the matter right, would like to place on record that it has neither carried out any exercise nor conducted any probe at any time in any part of the country to find out as to why people vote for any particular party or candidate at any election. The Commission is conscious of the fact that any such exercise or probe would be an infringement on the constitutional right of the people to exercise their franchise in a free and fair manner. The statement made in the editorial is disturbing and conveys a wrong impression to the people of this country.

"The Commission, therefore, has desired me to request you to publish an appropriate correction in this regard so that the wrong impression conveyed through your subject editorial to various political parties, candidates, electors and all other stakeholders is removed.

The Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu responds:

We appreciate the fact that the Election Commission has gone on record that "any exercise or probe" to find out "why people vote for any particular party or candidate at any election" would be "an infringement on the constitutional right of the people to exercise their franchise in a free and fair manner."

But there is no need to publish any correction to the factual reference made in the editorial "Remaining above the fray"' ( The Hindu of May 10, 2005) to "similar charges... made when in a moment of unexplained zeal, it sought to find out why the people were voting repeatedly for the CPI (M)-led Left Front in West Bengal but abandoned the exercise." We do not agree that any "wrong impression" has been conveyed to the people of this country. In fact, the editorial is mostly positive about the role and credibility of India's Election Commission, counselling "moderation, self-restraint and modesty" so that the Commission's constitutionally sanctioned role and high image of "remaining above the fray" is not compromised.

The critical reference in the editorial is based on specific complaints made in a formal letter, dated May 7, 2004, to the Chief Election Commissioner about the behaviour of "certain Central observers" deputed by the Election Commission to West Bengal for the 14th general election. This letter is signed by the leaders of the two main Left parties, Prakash Karat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and A.B. Bardhan of the Communist Party of India.

"While we appreciate the steps being taken by the Election Commission for holding of free and fair polls in West Bengal," the letter states, "we wish to point out that there are some discordant steps being taken by certain Central observers deputed to the state... For instance one complaint pertains to Shri I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, observer in 17-Diamond Harbour constituency, who has been asking why Muslims vote for the CPI (M). He also directed the arrest of certain persons. In the Asansol Lok Sabha seat, the observer Ms Ratnamala Rawal, according to written complaints of voters in certain polling stations, has been going around asking voters why they vote for the CPI (M) and the Left Front [for] years together...

In Vishnupur SC constituency, the observer Shri K.C. Varma has been asking similar questions about why they vote for the CPI (M) or whether they are terrorised, etc... In Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency, the observer Shri A.K. Tandon threatened the staging of a flag-march in certain villages in Bhangar after casting aspersions on the high level of polling witnessed in the area in the earlier elections... The complaints listed pertain to actions of only certain Central observers and we are sure this is not a pattern which is followed by all observers. We urge the Election Commission to take immediate remedial action to stop any unwarranted acts by the observers concerned."

The Hindu is of the editorial opinion that having done a sterling job of ensuring free and fair elections under complex conditions, the Election Commission should not give scope for any such complaints in future.

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