Whether the government likes it or not, most people are wondering why the announcement on the date for the Gujarat election has been delayed unlike for Himachal Pradesh (“Opposition has no right to question EC, says Modi”, October 23). Just as Caesar’s wife should be above suspicion, the Election Commission too should have its hands clean. Voters have a right to know why this differentiation exists. There is every reason for us to apprehend that democratic norms are being derailed and voters being taken for a ride.
Masilamani Jayapal
Kaveripattinam, Tamil Nadu
The reason for not announcing the date for the Gujarat elections is not convincing enough. If the bottleneck was providing relief to flood victims to the “flood-hit northern region”, then the EC could have made it an exception after announcing the date. Providing humanitarian aid is a relief operation and not a freebie. The Prime Minister taking offence at the Opposition parties making an issue out of the Gujarat poll date is strange. There is nothing wrong in parties taking up the matter. One wonders whether this delay is to benefit the ruling BJP in order to give it more time to announce various schemes with an eye on the voter. The EC should have been a little more careful in studying its election date announcement, which should be above any suspicion. No one should gain or lose while announcing the date.
D.B.N. Murthy,
Bengaluru
It is unfair on the part of the EC to adopt a biased stand in announcing the election schedule for Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The BJP is now speaking of simultaneous elections for parliamentary and State Assemblies and the Election Commission appears to be prepared to concede this wish. The EC is now virtually dancing to the tune of the Centre. There are already unresolved issues and allegations against the EC with respect to electronic voting machines and its probity in conducting an election in a crucial State is now in doubt.
Valampuri Mosay,
Vallioor, Tamil Nadu
If the Opposition parties have no authority to question the EC, then who else does? The EC is a constitutional body and has to be receptive to valid criticism on its functioning. In fact, the developments now should give it an opportunity to correct itself. The Prime Minister cannot be unaware of the criticism about the EC’s stand. When the EC itself hasn’t come up with convincing answers on this issue, it is patently incorrect to defend the EC on its behalf. Even for a layman who is not well versed in electoral procedures, it will appear as if the EC has grievously erred in its objectivity. It cannot simply accede to the request of the State government to delay the announcement till rehabilitation work is over. The model code of conduct cannot be applicable to ongoing rehabilitation works. The Prime Minster’s hurried inaugural of a spree of projects proves there is something deeper. The EC has succumbed to the “wishes” of the Gujarat government. There is not much to be read between the lines.
V.N. Gopal,
Chennai
It is inconceivable that the EC announced the polling date for only Himachal Pradesh and not Gujarat without application of mind. The Opposition is triggering a needless row and belittling the constitutional body. The language being used is also setting a bad precedent. This also goes to show that the Congress is desperate to score brownie points before Rahul Gandhi takes over the reins of the party. Even though political parties have a right to know the reason for the delay, it is the method that they are adopting which is unfortunate. It is also the Congress which has meddled in the past in the affairs of constitutional bodies. All parties including the Congress and the BJP must leave constitutional bodies set up to oversee democratic norms and functioning alone.
K.R. Srinivasan,
Secunderabad
