‘LAWS ARE TO BE BROKEN’ appears to be campaign theme
Tougher Election laws in place: candidates pull subtle tricks to by pass them: Election Commissioner Mahindha Deshapriya helpless
The current electoral system also demands a lot of money for candidates to traverse the entire district canvassing votes All face certain restrictions in the style and mode of campaigning this time due to the strict implementation of election related laws by the Election Department armed with more teeth under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution incorporated recently it was the smartest mode of campaigning designed to creep through loopholes in election laws
POSTERS HAVE NOT COVERED EVERY WALL AND POLE AND NO BIG CUTOUTS HAVE BEEN ERECTED AT EVERY JUNCTION OR FIXED TO LIGHT POSTS. LOUDSPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CANVASSING VEHICLES ARE RELATIVELY ABSENT. THESE OBSERVATIONS HAVE COMBINED TO GIVE THE IMPRESSION THAT POLITICAL PARTIES ARE ENGAGED IN THE ELECTION CAMPAIGN ON A LOW KEY THIS TIME.
The reason is not the lack of enthusiasm or vigorous campaigning by political parties and their candidates in the fray. Actually, candidates, particularly those from the main parties, are in frenzied canvassing. They are following a tight schedule of meetings from morning till dusk each day, and in door to door canvassing.
But, they all face certain restrictions in the style and mode of campaigning this time due to the strict implementation of election related laws by the Election Department armed with more teeth under the 19th Amendment to the Constitution incorporated recently.
Restrictions have been imposed on the putting up of posters in every nook and corner of cities, towns and villages. They include the installation of life-sized or smaller cutouts. The use of loudspeakers is confined to meeting grounds. The deployment of vehicles with stickers bearing party symbols, preferential numbers and candidates’ names are also restricted. They are permitted only on vehicles in which candidates travel.
Despite such legal bars, it is sine-quonon for candidates to advertise their party symbols and preferential numbers and to drive home their messages to voters. Therefore, in certain instances, some candidates have devised subtle means of propaganda which cannot be dealt with under the available legal provisions.
These candidates have been smart enough to creep through the loopholes in the system placing Election Commissioner, Mahinda Deshapriya in a predicament.
In one such instance, a powerful candidate of the Matara District is reportedly serving people with beverages bearing the elephant symbol and number ‘7’ as trade marks. This is a well thought out publicity devise to promote his party symbol and preferential number.
In a similar fashion, a leading candidate of the Badulla District has also adopted effective propaganda methods that cannot be restricted by present election laws. In this instance, the candidate has introduced arm bands bearing a symbol which relates directly to his name, to be worn by his supporters in door to door canvassing. Raffle draws have also been introduced by him with the offer of gifts including electronic items for the winners. In addition, his supporters make visits to households and offer gifts to occupants if they are found wearing the propaganda arm bands.
Mahinda Deshapriya, Election Commissioner, at a meeting with the heads of media organisations, has said that it was the smartest mode of campaigning designed to creep through loopholes in election laws.
The current electoral system also demands a lot of money for candidates to traverse the entire district canvassing votes. Without adequate financial support, it is a difficult task to bag preferential votes, sufficient enough to get elected to Parliament in intra-party and inter-party rivalry taking place side by side. Candidates are compelled to disperse a lot of money to ensure their victory. And the wealthy candidates always have the edge over others as a result. In vying for preferential votes, the tussle becomes so intense occasionally it brings out the worst in people.
In the run up to this election, some candidates have hired individuals on contract to carry out door- to- door canvassing and putting up posters in permitted places.
One such group of persons got into trouble while they were pasting posters over those of another candidate. This led to a confrontation between the two groups. Later, the group admitted that they were paid Rs.1500 a day for doing their work. “This is our job. We do not do it with political affiliation,” one person said.
The police, at the behest of the Election Department, tear off unlawful posters. But, some candidates have turned to the practice of mixing shards of glass from broken electric bulbs with starch used for pasting posters. This pratice is designed to hurt anyone manually removing posters.