Columnists

S Y Quraishi

Quraishi is former Chief Election Commissioner.

A weak rebuke: It’s unfortunate EC didn’t punish hate speech in Delhi campaign

Sat, Feb 15, 2020

Not taking action under the IPC encouraged the worthies like Parvesh Sahib Singh Varma to commit a repeat offence of indulging in a vitriolic diatribe against the Delhi CM for which the EC indicted him a second time within a week.

He put fear of God in recalcitrant politicians, was respected by all… Good bye, Mr Seshan

Mon, Nov 11, 2019

The awe and fear he evoked in us bordered on terror. Nobody had the guts to argue with him, not to speak of falling foul of him.

As Sri Lanka prepares for presidential polls, its Election Commission is the winner

Thu, Oct 24, 2019

The participation of youth was a common concern. There are nearly 3,00,000 first-time voters and the general opinion was that there would be a sense of apathy in them.

A protege’s tribute

Thu, Aug 08, 2019

Sushma Swaraj was a leader of courage and stature, an original thinker and doer.

Slipping on democracy

Tue, Feb 26, 2019

A recent Democracy Index confirms the paradox of India being the world’s largest electoral wonder, but an increasingly flawed democracy.

Not the EVM again

Thu, Jan 24, 2019

The accusers swap places with accused, and a contrived controversy goes on

Beyond binaries

Tue, Dec 04, 2018

A multi-pronged approach is needed to ensure the socio-economic uplift of the transgender community.

Court’s lost chance

Sat, Sep 29, 2018

Election Commission has been seeking SC’s aid to stem criminalisation of politics. Its verdict falls short.

Performing moderately

Sat, Sep 15, 2018

A new state of democracy report records a significant dip in India’s record on civil liberties, personal integrity and security, freedom of association, media integrity, gender equality

What I saw in Pakistan

Fri, Aug 03, 2018

Its general election was conducted in a transparent manner, with robust processes

Karnataka leftovers

Thu, Jun 07, 2018

The political drama has stoked important questions about parties, alliances, and the role of governor

Elections in the time of Cambridge Analytica

Fri, May 11, 2018

Stricter data protection laws are required to ensure that political parties do not indulge in practices that involve undue influencing of voting behaviour.

Lawmakers with perks

Mon, Feb 26, 2018

The long list of exemptions has made the office of profit a farce. Delhi Assembly case is an opportunity to debate the issue afresh.

The duty of the young

Sat, Jan 13, 2018

Since the politicians would do nothing to inform the youth about the socio-economic problems facing the nation today and only exploit them, it is the responsibility of civil society organisations and the media to educate young people.

In Nepal, with hope

Tue, Dec 12, 2017

Holding of the parliamentary and provincial elections is a huge achievement, a culmination of a tortuous process that started in 2006. The people now await development and stability.

And the winner is Election Commission

Thu, Aug 10, 2017

Gujarat Rajya Sabha election was BJP versus Congress. But it’s the ECI that covered itself in glory

Cleaning the House

Mon, Jul 24, 2017

Must tainted legislators be debarred from polls? For how long? Answers are about to come in

The polygamy myth

Thu, Jul 06, 2017

The Quran and Hadith are replete with verses in support of family planning. Muslim backwardness on this count is a fallout of poor socio-economic conditions.

Their Westminster, and ours

Thu, Jun 08, 2017

Despite the same electoral model, there are marked differences in how polls are conducted in Britain and in India

A UK election in the time of terror

Wed, Jun 07, 2017

Theresa May’s popularity has taken a knocking since she announced the election and it’s a moot point whether the three terror attacks in the UK help her cause