The Role and Power of the Election Commission in India: An Analysis and Critique

India's general elections, held every five years, are among the largest and most complex electoral processes in the world. The Election Commission of India (ECI) is the crucial institution charged with ensuring the fairness and integrity of these elections. However, questions and criticisms have arisen regarding the true role and power of the ECI in the face of challenges and controversies surrounding recent elections.

The Historical Context

Since India gained independence in 1947 and conducted its first general election in 1951, the ECI has played a pivotal role in the democratic process. With 900 million eligible voters, the ECI manages the logistics, funding, and enforcement of the laws meant to ensure fair and free elections.

The Current Challenges

Despite its constitutional mandate, the ECI faces significant challenges in asserting its power. Recent elections have been marred by issues such as financial crimes, electoral malpractices, and allegations of favoritism toward the ruling political party. These issues have raised concerns about the ECI's independence and effectiveness.

Financial Crimes and Favoritism

It is widely believed that only wealthy individuals can contest Indian elections, as the cost of running a successful campaign is exceedingly high. This has led to allegations that the ruling political party and associated government agencies, such as the home department, paramilitary forces, and bureaucratic bodies, often support the party in power or the party likely to win. Furthermore, there are reports of criminal elements being involved in the political process, with 4 dozen criminals obtaining tickets from each political party in many constituencies.

Challenges in Implementing Constitutional Rights

While the Indian Constitution, under Article 324, grants the ECI the power to direct, control, and conduct elections to all Parliament, the Legislature of each state, and the offices of the President and Vice President, it has been observed that the present ECI sometimes defers to the directives of the ruling dispensation. For instance, the 2019 Gujarat elections saw the postponement and subsequent rescheduling of polls, which was seen as politically motivated.

Specific Controversies

In the state of Rajasthan, a Member of Parliament was attacked at night, underlining the risks faced by election officials and candidates. Similarly, the BJP's aggressive campaign strategies, including lavish non-veg and alcohol parties in every village, have stirred debates over the fairness and integrity of the electoral process. Additionally, there have been allegations of the use of army helicopters for personal election meetings, which are seen as a violation of the ECI's code of conduct rules.

Control over Democracy

The current EC's actions and decisions have been criticized for being influenced by the ruling party, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The recent administration, led by Prime Minister Modi, has been accused of favoring certain political parties, as seen in the case of Andhra Pradesh, where one man won three votes. Despite the removal of 30 lakh duplicate voters and 13 lakh zero door numbers having voted, the issue of duplicate voters in the system persists, raising further doubts about the ECI's effectiveness.

Conclusion

The ECI plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity and fairness of India's electoral process. However, recent events and controversies have cast a shadow on its independence and the impartiality of its actions. It is imperative that the ECI upholds its constitutional mandate and remains free from political influences to ensure that every citizen's vote counts equally and freely.