Even though the seventh and the last phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha election is yet to take place, the focus has shifted on to the Election Commission, which must now ensure that the outcome is declared on time, and with the pre-requisite transparency. The EC has been under the radar for the past several weeks, and the opposition parties have accused it of being partial towards the ruling dispensation and its leaders, by ignoring many obvious violations of the model code of conduct. On the other hand, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has lashed out at the Congress and Rahul Gandhi for attempting to make an issue about the EC’s functioning “since they could see an impending defeat’’.
However, the EC has unnecessarily raised doubts over even simple matters like making available the voting figures. It has been under fire for increasing the percentage after a lapse of a few days and thus, must come clean before the people. In the past, no Election Commission has faced so much of criticism and the present body is virtually a one man show with the Chief Election Commissioner calling the shots. Two other ECs were appointed midway through the election process, and are merely guest artists. According to previous Election Commissioners, it takes up to one year for any new inductee to be completely acquainted with the functioning of the institution. Therefore, even if the two new ECs have had a considerable experience of serving in various capacities, their new role would take time for them to understand. Several petitions have been filed in the Apex Court and significantly, the ruling in one such matter has added some crucial safeguards in order to satisfy the people who doubt the working of the EVMs.
The Court has now stated that two loosing candidates could ask for a verification of the micro-controllers in five percent of the EVMs in specific booths. It has also been ordered that symbol loading units are to be kept in safe custody for 45 days after the declaration of the results. The present ECI has to rise to the occasion and ensure that there were no doubts raised over its functioning. This was most essential since the people by and large have full faith in the impartiality of the EC. The EC, has in the past, done some exemplary tasks and even its worst critics cannot deny that by holding the polls in the largest democracy of the world, the body has performed much above expectations. In the ongoing elections, the EC has turned a blind eye to many acts of transgression and this would be difficult to explain. It has not dealt with opposition and ruling party leaders in a uniform manner and many high dignitaries have escaped strictures for indiscreet comments for reasons best known to the Election Commissioners.
What needs to be understood is that when any officer occupies any position of authority, he or she has no option but to protect the sanctity and the prestige of that office. This matter was presented very aptly by noted writer Munshi Prem Chand in his book, “Panch Parmeshwar’’ where the sanctity of the position is demonstrated through a vice nice story involving two friends, Algu Chaudhury and Jamman Sheikh. It is certainly not an easy task to hold elections where the electorate exceeds 100 crores and satisfy all stake holders. However, this challenge has been accepted by the Election Commissioners of the past, and by and large, they delivered. In the present situation where the poll is extremely divisive and there are sharp differences amongst the participants, the Election Commission has to rise to the occasion. The doubts which have often been expressed by many opposition leaders relate to tampering of machines. Even when the Congress was in power, many BJP leaders held press conferences to claim that the EVMs could be tampered. However, once the government changed, these people also changed their opinion. So far there has been no evidence regarding the tampering of the EVMs but certain patterns are often spoken about to substantiate the charge. In 2019, those opposed to the BJP had claimed that a team of techies at a five-star hotel in the aero city, had manipulated certain percentage of votes in as many as 167 constituencies.
This was very far-fetched and obviously no one was able to establish that such a thing had happened. It is very evident that those who lose, resort to complaining and never complain if they win. Even when the ballots were in use, there were some Jana Sangh leaders who had accused Indira Gandhi in 1971, of bringing in some special ink from the then Soviet Union to manipulate the outcome. Naturally nothing came out of the charges and they ceased with the passage of time. In the current surcharged atmosphere, it is being alleged that the ground is being prepared through exit polls and opinion polls to allow the BJP to win. This is most ridiculous and those who are claiming this must have the courage to prove they accusations. It is certainly not easy to tinker with the EVMs and with so many people involved in the election process, the tampering is almost impossible. Nevertheless, the Election Commission and those working for it from the top to bottom must make sure that after the outcome, there is no room for any doubts regarding the working of this august body.