- The Indian democracy is so fascinating, throbbing, thriving, and dynamic that it leaves most of us in thrall simply because of the way our Constitution unambiguously delineates how to go about running the administration. One of the solid institutions that ensures our democracy never goes off the track is the Election Commission of India (ECI) ensuring free and fair elections are conducted throughout the year. Over the years, the ECI has gone about discharging the responsibilities of conducting free and fair elections with great zeal, intent, and purpose. If the Indian democratic form of governance has received great accolades from the global community, the ECI deserves major credit for the same. No questions asked at that.
PC: The Wire
- As you are aware, the mother of all elections – the Lok Sabha polls – is barely a few months away. All the political parties are in full swing gearing up to present their cases in front of the discerning electorate. Likewise, the institution entrusted to carry out the elections viz. the ECI too has made elaborate arrangements for the big day. It’s a matter of time before the dates for the polls are announced. However, the sudden resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel at this crucial juncture offers poor optics. The reason for the sudden exit by the EC is not clear either. Nonetheless, his exit won’t have any impact on the election schedule or the subsequent conduct of the polls. The political class, especially the opposition, need not fret over the resignation.
- For the uninitiated, India’s three-body ECI, heading into general elections, has two posts vacant now. While some media reports indicate a PM-led meeting may be held in mid-March to decide EC appointments, opposition parties have raised red flags about Arun Goel’s departure. Note that the worries articulated are, at this point, moot. It is certainly a matter of concern that Goel’s sudden exit surprised the institution itself. This speaks to the need for transparency within ECI, as much as with citizens and stakeholders. It’s imperative that reasons accompany such high-level decisions, or rumor mills run amok. In this case, speculation on health and a falling-out with CEC – likened to Ashok Lavasa’s resignation in 2020 – were strenuously denied.
PC: Gulf News
- That said, there’s no reason why elections should not proceed per schedule, either constitutionally, or operationally. CEC is in whom the Constitution (Art 342) vests power. Picking election commissioners is the job of a committee of the PM, his chosen minister, and LoP. Of course, this is not the best way to appoint ECs, there’s an almost inbuilt 2-1 skew here. But that’s how the law was written, contrary to SC’s judgment. CEC is well within his right to single-handedly conduct the election. Every state election commission that conducts the poll, is prepared to its teeth. As are railways and paramilitary. All told, about 1.5 crore poll personnel are involved. The system is ready, and the gargantuan machinery waiting for the word to go. Let the Dance of Democracy begin.
