The EC way out

Earlier,it was the Congresss turn to complain. Narendra Modis khooni panja comment set the Congress off in the direction of the EC. And its litany of complaints kept growing Modi had allegedly mimicked Rahul Gandhi at a rally,he had also launched personal attacks on the Gandhi family. The BJP was also guilty of more subtle offences. Lotuses are suggestive,the Congress told the state election commission in Madhya Pradesh,they would enamour voters of the BJP. But the SEC refused to hide the offending flowers,explaining that they had occupied the water bodies for a long time and not shown any political leanings.

Each party seems to have assumed an air of po-faced rectitude,while the EC is cast as the schoolmarm tasked with soothing ruffled feathers. But in the rough and tumble of electoral politics,harsh words are often exchanged. Parties are usually robust enough to counter them within the bounds of political discourse. So while this regard for the code of conduct is admirable,the sudden attack of delicacy is surprising. Politics,it is well known,is hardly ever politically correct.