People's Democracy

KARNATAKA

Illogical Restrictions Must Go: CPI(M)

ON April 8, 2013, a team of the Karnataka state unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met the members of the Election of Commission of India when they were on a visit to the state. During the meeting that took place in the Vidhana Soudha at Bangalore, the CPI(M) was represented by  G N Nagaraj, S Y Gurushanth and Arpuda Rajan.

The CPI(M) was asked to meet the EC members via its fax message dated April 1, 2013 and postal message dated April 3, 2013, in the context of the upcoming state assembly polls.

Through its submission made to the Election Commission of India, the CPI(M) urged that the chief electoral officer of Karnataka must hold a press conference everyday and therein he must inform the media about the raids made and malpractices found by the Election Commission’s squads, for example about the liquor seized, unaccounted cash seized, etc, along with the constituencies in which such raids are made. This the CPI(M) felt would act as a deterrent to an extent. There must be immediate penalties and such other punishments, as only then such raids and other actions would act as an effective deterrent.

While appreciating the efforts of the Election Commission to control the impact of money power and muscle power in order to ensure free and fair elections, the CPI(M) also pointed out that the restrictions placed on the place and timings of public meetings, banners, posters etc and the provision of seeking prior approval about the contents of the pamphlets etc was impacting the very purpose of the electoral process, i.e., of having informed voters who would be able to exercise their right to vote on the basis of issues. The CPI(M) said meetings in convention halls etc too are not allowed. The party said any political party must have an opportunity to place its views before the people even where it is not contesting, but at present it has virtually no such opportunity now. This is jeopardising the aim of having an informed debate, the CPI(M) team said.

Unlike many parties that receive funding from corporate houses and other vested interests, some parties like the Communist Party of India (Marxist) collect funds from the general public throughout the state, including the areas where they are not contesting. But this is not being allowed, which thwarts their activity, and creates a severe disability for these parties regarding taking their viewpoint to the voters.

During the meeting, the CPI(M) representatives also raised the issue of irregularities in the voters list. They said there were many irregularities in the list whose compilation was faulty. For example, voters from one constituency were found in the list pertaining to a different constituency. Photographs too are not clear. Therefore the voters list must be checked with the census figures for the area concerned, to the extent possible, the CPI(M) said.

For the polling day, the CPI(M) demanded that the height of the screens enclosing the ballot boxes must be raised, and that CCTV cameras must be installed outside the polling booths and also near the voters’ queue etc. The party was hopeful that the Election Commission of India would consider its suggestions and take appropriate action.