A Hindi quote reads jiski lathi, uskibhains (might is right). Elections in India are celebrated as the biggest festival of democracy. During elections, all parties propose their manifestos, and based on these manifestos, they contest elections. This is the normal process across the world.
However, the recent developments in India are astonishing. Targeting opposition party leaders before elections and the use of state machinery to hound opposition parties are not only shocking but also raise serious concerns.
The roles played by the ED, Election Commission, and the narrative-building against other parties and communities are alarming. Targeting Muslims to consolidate larger Hindu community votes, the ruling party’s direct targeting of sitting CMs, and ED raids on opposition party leaders further highlight the need for scrutiny.
To understand these issues in detail, we have engaged in dialogue with Kidiyoor Nihal, former National Secretary of SIO India, and Abdul Aleem Shaik, a Technology Analyst at an MNC in Andhra Pradesh.
Kidiyoor Nihal, Former National Secretary of SIO India
Our modern state rests on three foundational pillars: Legislature, Judiciary, and Executive. Through the sharing of powers, they ensure balance and harmony, preventing the accumulation and abuse of power. This sharing of powers is considered the cornerstone of democracies. As we cast gaze at the upcoming parliamentary elections, we are left to ponder the most basic criterion: is there a scope for free and fair elections? Can we be assured that this electoral process, the largest in the world, represents the aspirations of being a vibrant democratic country with the power of the ballot entrusted to citizens to realize their power?
Every election rhetoric is built around the narrative that the upcoming election is the most decisive in history. A similar narrative is being dished out, suggesting “this is the last parliamentary election before we transform into a dictatorship.” Not sure of the grain of truth behind such claims, one aspect remains an existential threat to the very pillar of democracy and our society: the misuse of institutions such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Election Commission of India (ECI), etc. The manner in which the ED has hounded opposition leaders poses a serious threat to our political space and paints a tainted picture of leaders in queue joining the ruling party. The resignation of the Election Commissioner of India on the eve of the election also raises further eyebrows on whether there is something shady behind the scenes.
The use of muscle power, disinformation, alcohol, etc., is a systemic challenge we face and need to overcome. But the brazen abuse of power by the legislature stands to disrupt the power-sharing equation and weaken the people’s trust. We must realize that the crux of the matter lies in the faith of our people in these institutions as regulators and checks and balances. Once faith erodes, the slippery slope will lead to a free fall of our society into anarchy and chaos.
To further make my case, two sitting chief ministers, Hemant Soren from Jharkhand and Arvind Kejriwal from Delhi, have been put behind bars to intimidate the opposition and dent prospective alliances. My point is that this is a cover for the most inefficient and incompetent governance of the ruling party. The people of India must realize that these autocratic tendencies will have a larger impact on our institutions and society, which may be irreversible. Thus, this election stands set to be partisan. We, the people of India, must strive tooth and nail to keep it free and fair and strengthen our support for the Election Commission and our institutions. Let the greatest festival of democracy be a season of happiness, delight, and celebration, not mourning and catastrophe.
Abdul Aleem Shaik, Technology Analyst at MNC Andhra Pradesh
The Election Commission (EC), once an independent democratic body responsible for upholding the values of democracy, is now grappling to maintain its ethos. A series of events since the last general elections raise questions about the EC’s credibility. Let’s examine the major reasons behind the weakening of this democratic institution, which suggests bias within the EC.
During the 2019 general elections, a series of breaches of Model Code of Conduct occurred from the ruling party, yet the EC remained silent. In response, a group of retired bureaucrats and diplomats wrote a letter to the then-president, Ram Nath Kovind. The same year, then Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa raised concerns about the EC’s clean chits given to Modi for his allegedly divisive speeches.
The EC turned a deaf ear when Yogi Adityanath referred to the 2022 UP assembly elections as a battle between 80% and 20%, alluding to religious communities, and Modi referred to CAA protesters by their attire during the 2019 Jharkhand polls. Numerous derogatory speeches stoking religious divides and targeting Muslim minorities were made by ruling party leaders, yet the EC failed to reprimand them.
Conversely, the EC took action against opposition party leaders. Notices were sent to Rahul Gandhi over his choice of words. In TMC-ruled Bengal, the EC changed 3 DGPs in 24 hours, and opposition-ruled states were frequently labeled as ‘violence-prone.’ Despite demands from the opposition, there has been no dialogue regarding the installation of VVPAT machines across all polling booths.
The recent resignation of Arun Goel as Election Commissioner shortly before the election schedule announcement, along with the appointment of pro-government EC commissioners to key positions, raises suspicions about the integrity of the EC and fairness of elections. The 2024 general election schedule released by the EC appears designed to benefit the ruling party.
Furthermore, the targeting of opposition party leaders, including sitting CMs, through ED and IT raids, issuance of tax notices, and filing of old tax returns by the ruling party, has gone unchecked by the EC. These actions demonstrate bias and create an uneven playing field for contesting parties and their candidates.