Rasta roko

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai, the world8217;s largest and richest urban body, which presides over the country8217;s financial capital, is in poll mode with its elections coming up on February 1. This means that the state Election Commission8217;s model code has come into force. This also means the suspension of planning and action on major infrastructural and urban projects.

The social and economic impact of this stipulation for a major metropolis like Mumbai is both enormous and expensive. The resultant policy and project slow-down is especially damaging since it comes at a point when both Mumbai and Maharashtra are poised for a major makeover. Consider some of these facts: the Maharashtra government had decided to repeal the anachronistic Urban Land Ceiling and Regulation Act, which will free up land for the city8217;s development. Maharashtra is one of the last states in the country to take this step, but that now stands suspended until the assembly reconvenes for the budget session later next year. And that is not all. Infrastructural plans, ranging from the court-directed Mithi Development Project to help save the city from its annual tryst with monsoon-inundated roads to slum redevelopment and water supply projects, could be affected. The process of bidding for tenders in the construction of several flyovers will also be delayed. In other words, the development of Maharashtra and Mumbai is now being held hostage to municipal elections.

Which begs the question: shouldn8217;t the electoral model code distinguish between electoral malpractice and policy derailment? While its basic intention 8212; of providing a level playing field for all parties in the fray 8212; is important and useful, a mechanical application of this instrument serves us badly. After all, elections in a country of India8217;s proportions are constantly taking place and at all points of time. Even if we ignore the various elections to panchayats and urban bodies, we will witness assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttaranchal, Manipur, Gujarat, J038;K and Goa next year. In 2008 there will be polls in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Then, of course, there is the general election whopper of 2009. The cumulative havoc wreaked by the blunt application of the Model Code in all these instances can well be imagined. The Election Commission needs to go back to the drawing board on this one.