Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Make EC stronger – not weaker' that was published in Newsband

Make EC stronger – not weaker

The Election Commission (EC) should be provided with a proper code of conduct to bring some semblance of order to India’s election scene and to keep campaigns fair and healthy. It should be able to see to it that ruling parties, at the Centre and in the States, do not misuse their position of advantage to gain an unfair edge. The EC should be able to use its powers to cancel the registration of political parties that violate the code. This will definitely stem the misuse of official machinery and check electoral malpractices and corruption.

With six States poll-bound in a few months, and national elections on the horizon, this is the time to highlight the salience of the model code for the conduct of healthy elections. The enforcement of model code of conduct helps the electorate cast their franchise without getting much influenced by the many political parties which rally their leaders.  People of India became aware of these codes only until the historical elevation of T. N Sheshan as the CEC. People then became aware of the immunity they had for a fearless voting procedure.

EC's power should not be curtailed if fair elections have to take place and fair elections are crucial for a robust and vibrant democracy. The attempt to curtail EC's power by the present government is undermining the importance of democracy. We, the people should oppose this tooth and nail so as to keep Election Commission strong and relevant to changing scenario of politics and elections.

Election Commission is a constitutional body created for free and fair election in the country and the power was given to them by founding fathers of constitution. The EC should be made more potent and strengthened and not weakened.

It is clear that the political parties which are trying to strip off the essential powers of EC are blatantly against the fundamentals of democracy. The code of conduct for elections must be further strengthened to restore the moral of Indians and save the face of biggest democracy.

If EC is clipped of its wings, our democracy will turn into monarchy.