Sujayendra Das :
There was a time when relation between Indian political culture and Election Commission Office of India was regarded with high esteem. There were differences of opinion between the two and harsh exchanges might have had taken place. Now with the change of political and social situations in India we find that relation between Indian political culture and Office of The Election Commission of India has become terribly belligerent and vices which glaringly proves the degradatrion of our democratic setup.
There is also a temperament on the part of our political culture which aims to politicise the entire department. That is why present chief election commissioner of India Mr Sunil Arora as well his deft predecessors always appeal to all political fraternities of India to cooperate with CEC in a friendly and pleasant manner, not to be involved in any sorts of fracas and scuffling which may turn this prestigious department into a political entity.
Citizens want CEC to be remained as an apolitical entity. In the last couple of years irrespective of Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections we found that all political party members have entered into severe jostling with the prestigious office of Chief Election Commission of India. It has converted this prestigious body in front of this massive 135 crores population residing in India’s 29 states and 9 Union territories into stooge and farce oriented. This image of CEC has to be changed at any cost in front of the citizens of India. It is none other than our political fraternities and also civil servants of India who always remain instrumental in transforming the image of this prestigious body of Indian democracy into a respectable one. Thus it is my humble task to examine in details about how to transform CEC into a respectable and apolitical body.
How to transform the office of Chief Election Commission into apolitical and respectable body in India?
It is no doubt that the office of the Chief Election Commission of India should be regarded as an apolitical and respectable body in India. It was since the beginning of first parliamentary session of Independent India the office of CEC used to be regarded in its highest esteem. In the beginning of the decade of fifties we are well aware Independent India’s political and social situation used to be held in high esteem. But now we find a pathetic scenario the way the office of Election Commission of India based in country’s capital New Delhi is being treated by our political fraternities speaks broadly about our derogatory culture cum ambience which we are passing through at present. Anyhow there are some common ways and means by which we can transform the office of CEC to much better heights among which some of the common ones are stated as follow:
Constitutional experts of India should spread positives about CEC to the members of parliament as well as to all the Members of Legislative Assemblies of all 29 States and 9 Union Territories.
The office of chief election commissioner of the government of India is a secular body hence it is our humble task inclusive of all Members of Parliament as well as that of Legislative Assemblies cum union territories to pay due reverence.
The relationship between the both should of pleasant and cordial without any hostilities and heated exchanges.
The office of chief election commissioner of the government of India should be given additional powers when they evince any sort of unwarranted situations.
Transparent oriented administrative officers of India should be inducted into the office of Chief Election Commission of India.
Now we find that there has been clarion call given by the notable celebrities of different disciplines to pay due recognition to the office of CEC of India so that all the election processes should take place smoothly. The way in some states of India different election process are taking place needs to be revamped immediately. The way last Parliamentary Election of India took place sounds extremely shocking and dismaying. Now the process has already started to transform this August body into a respectable and apolitical body. The main area should be paid attention is bringing back erstwhile ballot boxes instead of present EVM’s. The same change will in all probability take place in Bangladesh too. But I am not throwing deep introspections into it as I being an Indian national.
(Sujayendra Das writes from Kolkata, India)
