- The entire country is witness to how the recently concluded state assembly polls unfolded even as the second covid wave is devastating the entire country leaving none untouched. As the cry for survival from desperate people vis-à-vis beds, oxygen, ICUs, and ventilators started reaching a crescendo, it was amply clear that the whole exercise of conducting these elections without a nary consideration for maintaining social distancing would prove to be a great contributor in spreading the virulent virus. As rallies after electoral rallies were organized by the contesting parties throwing the safety and health protocol with disdain, the recipe for disaster was a given fact that was bound to explode sooner than later.
PC: Kathy Oxtoby
- As the long-winded elections meandered along, the spread of the virus was so swift and faster that it caught the sleeping administration unawares, especially the Election Commission of India. It is a well-established norm that the ECI is tasked to conduct free and fair elections but also without compromising on the lives of the officials entrusted with the responsibilities of conducting the polls. What exactly transpired throughout the campaigning in the election-bound states not only put paid to the Commission’s plans of conducting polls uneventfully but also contributed to spreading the virus to hinterlands as well. No wonder, poll campaign rallies in these states turned out to be no less than super spreader events.
- As if on cue, the High Courts of Madras and Calcutta lambasted the EC where the covid appropriate behavior was flagrantly violated with impunity. No one is arguing here that the time-tested democratic processes should be neither curtailed nor compromised but given the present situation prevalent owing to the virus wrought challenges, there is an urgent need to consider introducing effective and alternative mediums to minimize the fallout from the usual conduct of elections. Come to think of it, many of us working in diverse fields and industries not exposed to the advantageous situations arising out of embracing the digital revolution were forced to take recourse to technology-driven digital mediums to carry out our chores.
PC: Nishant Maliakel Oommen
- Work from home has indeed become a go-to medium for many fields/sectors helping us stay afloat during extraordinary circumstances as the mounting challenges to physical presence could not be ignored any longer. Online and social media, web-based broadcasts, webcasts, and webinars grew exponentially with business honchos spending more and more on digital campaigns. In line with the changing times, many political parties too embraced the digital medium addressing virtual rallies over these platforms reaching out to their workers and followers in real-time. Progressive societies have always welcomed changes that facilitate the smooth functioning of humankind in many endeavors. Why not an e-voting system then?
- There may arise valid questions about the security aspects of digital voting which cannot be brushed aside just like that. But when financial data of crores of Indians can be securely kept within the banking system through the use of robust technology, there is no reason to explore a similar possibility for considering e-voting as an alternative option by using Aadhaar linked, individual voter specific, non-transferable link and exercising voting preferences either from home or from fast mushrooming Jan Seva Kendras or facilitating centers. All stakeholders like political parties, Election Commission, policymakers, law agencies, and the judiciary should initiate necessary debate on the issue.
