Former Bureaucrats Want EC Action Against Gross Violations

Members of the Constitutional Conduct Group, of former civil servants of the All India and Central Services who have worked with the Central and State Governments, have written to the Election Commission of India (ECI), seeking “remedial action relating to the abuse of money and muscle power, the misuse of print and electronic media, the egregious violations of the Model Code of Conduct”.

They had earlier sent to the ECI, two published volumes of recommendations of the Citizens’ Commission on Elections. However, the CCG stated that the ECI has reported yet to discuss the suggestions.

As soon, Lok Sabha as well as a number of Legislative Assembly elections are due the CCG has stated that “a host of issues, relating to money & muscle power, media & manipulation, the registration of voters and machine management, still await satisfactory resolution to ensure that the election process is carried out in a free and fair manner”.

These include, electoral funding, “abuse of money power” and “misuse of muscle power.” The CCG stated that “The ECI has been found wanting on this score over the past few years. Our group had raised this issue during the Lok Sabha elections of 2019, when no action was taken on divisive religious rhetoric at election rallies in Wardha and Nanded in Maharashtra. The pattern has continued since, with the latest instance being the open call by the Prime Minister to the voters of Karnataka to chant a religious invocation “Jai Bajrang Bali” while casting their votes. The ECI, despite being approached on this matter, took no cognisance.”

The group also raised issues conversing VVPAT printouts and recommended that “all VVPAT slips be counted for every assembly constituency, both in Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. The EVM counting and 100% VVPAT slip counting should be taken up simultaneously in every assembly constituency to arrive at the result as expeditiously as possible.”

They have recommended that the ECI take the following actions:

(i) Move the Supreme Court for an early hearing of the Electoral Bonds case, to bring about transparency in election funding.

(ii) Initiate a dialogue with representatives of political parties to facilitate the amendment of Article 102 of the Constitution of India to disqualify MPs/MLAs, who defect after being elected on the ticket of a particular political party, from contesting any election for a period of six years from the date of defection.

(iii) Strengthen provisions of the Model Code of Conduct to bar all sectarian, divisive communal propaganda/statements that are likely to influence the voting process and initiate severe action against offenders, including even prohibition from contesting polls for a specified period of time.

(iv) With new forms of media coming into play, evolve norms to ensure fair play and even access to all forms of media – print, electronic and social.

(v) Carry out social audit of electoral rolls as indicated above.

(vi) Develop a robust cross-verification system of EVMs through systematic VVPAT use.

The entire letter may be read here.