A few weeks ago we did an editorial on ‘right to reject’ as one of the several electoral reforms being suggested by well meaning people and also getting the support of the Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi. Related to the issue of electoral reforms is the oft repeated concern—the use of money and muscle power in elections. As already mentioned in this column, the idea of the right to reject, if put into practice, can actually deter misuse of corrupt money during elections. If this power of right to reject is given to voters then a candidate will think twice before spending such a huge sum of money to buy votes knowing that after spending crores, his candidature could be rejected at the time of actual voting. The right to reject if implemented may well bring down the cost of our election campaigns. Another concern which actually goes into the core of electoral malpractice is to do with bribing of voters both during campaigning and at the time of voting.
In this regard what will come as a welcome development the Law Ministry has reportedly accepted a proposal of the Election Commission to amend the law to make bribing of voters, either in cash or kind, a cognisable offence. It has written to the Home Ministry seeking issue of an ordinance to amend IPC Section 171(B), under which the bribe giver is now booked, to make it a cognizable offence. It would also apply to those who take bribes. With the amendment, law enforcing agencies would have arresting power. Persons convicted under the section can be jailed up to one year or be fined or both. Therefore, along with the other forward looking reform measures now underway, this latest move to make bribing for votes a cognisable offence will hopefully have a deterrent effect on those bribing or accepting bribes during the poll as they could be arrested and imprisoned.
Now the question remains as to how such positive steps being taken can become a reality. It is often the case that we have good and stringent law/s but enforcement is a failure in most situations. The proposal to make bribing a cognizable offence will therefore require diligent effort while framing the law so that nothing is left for people to circumvent loopholes. For instance it is a known fact that those who are usually bribed are not the educated or well to do voters but the simple minded and poor citizens living below poverty line. Also politicians or the political parties themselves should actually have a vested interest to go for free and fair election. They will not have to spend crores of rupees in order to contest or win election. If our politicians do not want to be burdened during election time, then it makes sense for them to curb their own instinct to use money and muscle power. May be in the Naga context it is very much possible for elections to be held in a controlled environment where civil society, people’s group and the churches can act as guarantees to ensure free and fair polls. Just imagine the money saved during election time, which will come to hundred of crores, this can be invested in creating valuable assets, which will be able to generate jobs and sustain the local economy.
