A noble act

With reference to the edit “Cleaner polling” (FE, June 8), kudos to the Election Commission of India (ECI) for seeking legal powers to countermand an election if there is evidence of using money to bribe the voters, as money plays a major part in the Indian elections. Needless to say that once the proposed amendment to Section 58A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, acquires legal status, it would really help in curbing the extant practice of money frequently changing hands as per the need and suitability of the political parties concerned. Earlier also, the EC had recommended cancellation of voting in two constituencies—Aravakurichi and Thanjavur— in Tamil Nadu on account of voters being bribed. It may be recalled it was TN Sheshan, former chief election commissioner of India who had ‘revolutionised’ the Indian electoral battlefield with the introduction of some of his unprecedented yet out of box ideas. This had led to him acquiring the dubious distinction of being the most hated man in the political circles of the country. But, as of now, the credit for cleansing a part of the deeprooted political dust goes to various TV channels for conducting the string operations which show India’s political fraternity in a highly unsavoury position. The latest sting operation which showed MLAs in Karnataka to rake in crores for stamping their preference for a particular candidate in the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha on June 11 does not augur well for the Indian democracy. Incidentally, it may also be pointed out that a similar sting operation involving the chief minister of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat (prior to the holding of a floor test in the State Assembly) is currently under CBI’s investigation after the state High Court refused to intervene in the matter. Perhaps, the Election Commission is now making the constitutional efforts to lend a helping hand to the govt sponsored clean India Campaign by removing the money oriented electoral garbage from the Indian politics. In all fairness, the entire nation wishes the Election Commission a commendable success in its noble act. The Editor,The Financial Express, B1/B, Sector - 10, Noida - 201301. Distt: Gautam Budh Nagar (U.P.).or e-mail at: feletters@expressindia.com or fax at Delhi: 0120-4367933