Opinion D Raja writes: In this poll season, BJP has attacked integrity of electoral processes

The Election Commission of India (ECI) was conceived as a strong, independent and permanent body deriving its authority directly from the Constitution. ECI holds a vast mandate and power when it comes to the conduct of free and fair elections. The extent of ECI’s power is such that it cancelled a by-election to the R K Nagar assembly constituency in Tamil Nadu in 2017 when it saw the electoral process being “seriously vitiated” by the use of money power. It is disheartening to see the same body behaving in the manner it has by neglecting serious violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by leaders of the BJP. The BJP and PM Narendra Modi started their campaign by repeatedly invoking the Ram Temple issue but the ECI took no note of it. However, to the BJP’s great shock, people prioritised issues of livelihood like employment, price rise and the 10 years of BJP misrule etc. Their refusal to be swayed by the Ram Temple issue made the BJP and Modi desperate and they resorted to the only thing they know — polarisation. Overnight, the BJP dropped Modi’s guarantees and the Viksit Bharat rhetoric and started fuelling hatred and divisions. The PM openly made anti-minority remarks and baselessly claimed that the Opposition alliance will give wealth to Muslims if voted to power. These remarks not only violated the MCC but also the spirit of secularism and equality enshrined in the Constitution.

I wrote to the CEC on April 23, seeking action against Modi and the BJP for violating the MCC. In response, the ECI sent a notice, not to Modi, who made the provocative remarks, but to BJP President JP Nadda, asking him to “bring to the notice of all your star campaigners to set high standards of political discourse and observe provisions of MCC in letter and spirit”. In the past, such notices and censures were issued directly to the campaigner who violated the MCC. Further, the ECI issued a similar notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

The mandate of the people goes beyond changing the government — it is crucial to protect the character of our nation, which was built by the sacrifices of our freedom fighters. Ideals like equality, secularism, welfarism, federalism and social justice are vital for progress. Independence and integrity of crucial institutions are necessary if citizens’ interests are to be safeguarded. Free and fair voting is the cornerstone of our democracy and the ECI is the instrument to ensure that right provided by the Constitution. As we see institutional erosion all around us, the ECI should serve the people according to its mandate.

The writer is General Secretary, CPI