It May Be Time For An Anna Hazare-Type Agitation To Reclaim Election Panel’s Integrity

By K Raveendran

It may be time for an Anna Hazare-type agitation to reclaim the integrity and independence of the Election Commission, completely compromised by the incumbent commission like never before.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar is no T N Seshan, who proved that the Election Commission had enough powers not to let anyone interfere with its working. Of course, Seshan was a law unto himself, conducting the affairs of the commission on his own terms, but sadly he was the exception rather than the rule. We have seen how with passage of time, the office has been occupied by persons of doubtful credibility and integrity.

But the present arrangement, which is probably the best description of the system in place for the appointment of election commissioners, the commission has been placed under the care of political executive’s handpicked people and we have seen what this means to the functioning of the institution. And this is likely to become even more glaring in the days to come.

So, it is of utmost importance for the survival of democracy that the people put up a collective resistance as it happened during the Anna Hazare agitation. Nobody else is going to do this for them, least of all the political bosses who otherwise call all the shots.

It was under similar circumstances that Anna Hazare, a former soldier and social activist, stepped onto the national stage, embodying the Gandhian spirit of civil disobedience and non-violent protest. His mission was clear and singular: to demand the establishment of a strong Lokpal, an anti-corruption ombudsman, through the enactment of the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Hazare’s call to action struck a chord with the masses, who were weary of the rampant corruption that plagued their daily lives. His hunger strike at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi was not just a protest; it was a spectacle that captured the nation’s attention and galvanized a movement. People from all walks of life, cutting across the divides of age, caste, and creed, converged to support Hazare’s cause. The protest site became a microcosm of India’s diversity, united by a common desire for change.

The government, caught in the whirlwind of public sentiment, found itself at the crossroads. The ruling party of the time was compelled to engage with Hazare and his team, who had drafted a version of the Lokpal Bill that promised sweeping reforms and stringent measures against corruption. However, the political machinations that ensued revealed the complexities and challenges of turning idealistic demands into legislative reality.

Ultimately, when the Lokpal Bill was passed, it fell far short of the high expectations set by Hazare’s movement. The final version was seen as a watered-down compromise, lacking the teeth to tackle the deep-rooted corruption it was meant to eradicate. The disillusionment was palpable among Hazare’s supporters, who felt betrayed by the dilution of their aspirations. It is the height of irony that the chief beneficiary was the BJP, which rode a wave of anti-establishment sentiments and came to power, but began to negate every aspect of democracy that helped them capture power.

Despite the anticlimactic outcome, the Lokpal movement left an indelible mark on India’s collective consciousness. It brought the issue of corruption to the forefront of national discourse, prompting introspection and debate about the mechanisms of accountability and transparency in governance. The movement also served as a testament to the power of collective action and the potential for grassroots mobilization to influence policy and public opinion.

The wheel has turned a full circle and it is again time for a similar action, this time the stakes being much higher than corruption because the very future of democracy and the country is facing threat. Rajiv Kumar’s election commission has clearly failed to maintain the integrity of the electoral process, which hinges on a level playing field for competing parties, ensuring transparency and monitoring of how political parties have been following the model code of conduct. The absence of effective regulation has meant that the ruling party has enjoyed undue influence, leading to misuse of state machinery, and other electoral malpractices.

There has been total lack of transparency, with the commission itself facing charges of bias towards the ruling party, failure to enforce discipline by political parties and a biological disability to scrutinize party finances, track violations, and hold parties accountable for their actions.

Anna Hazare’s movement was a wake-up call. The current Indian situation is ripe for a similar call, to channel a collective force into demanding an independent election commission. Only then can we ensure that our democracy remains vibrant, transparent, and accountable to its citizens. (IPA Service)

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