Lessons from elections 2019

The EC must review its record and plug all the loopholes

The long-drawn-out, seven-phase, elections for the 17th Lok Sabha are finally over. While the results are yet to be announced, it is an opportune moment to look back and internalise the lessons thrown up during the conduct of these elections. To begin with, there is an urgent need to shift towards shorter election seasons. The

Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was enforced on March 10 and polling took place between April 11 and May 19. When most elections around the world get over in a matter of one or two days, such a long election season is an anachronism in this day and age. It is true that India throws up many more challenges than other democracies, yet it is undeniable that the Election Commission (EC) plays too safe while deciding the election schedule. The long election season is neither good for governance nor for the health of democracy. Governance suffers and the political rhetoric plumbs to its lowest depths.

This was also a tough election for EC. It has been accused of favouring the incumbent and not doing enough to create a level-playing field. It has been found to be slow in acting on the complaints filed. A crisis of sorts was created when one of the members of the Commission, Ashok Lavasa, decided to step aside from EC meetings because his dissent was not being recorded. It is clear that the EC was unprepared for the political joust that this election turned out to be. It will be appropriate if it reviews its own performance and comes out with an honest self-appraisal. Perhaps the poll body needs to beef up its capacity to deal with the increasing number of complaints.

Finally, it is not a bad idea to look at the simultaneous polls. India has state elections every few months. All such elections are increasingly being marked by stagnation in governance or administration with an eye on the elections, political rhetoric, astronomical spending by parties and decreasing trust in institutions. It is time we had a serious debate on clubbing all elections.