Whatever be the official outcome of this election, it is a feather in the cap for India, especially its voters and for the Election Commission.
Elections are central to and the defining element of a democracy. By the time this article hits the press, India will have successfully completed the seventh and last phase of its general elections to elect the members of the 18th Lok Sabha. It was a commendable exercise; a spectacular achievement and undoubtedly the greatest show of democracy on earth; a demonstration of India’s singular commitment to democracy and a message to the world that democracy is alive in India and can thrive in the most trying of circumstances.
Since 1947, when India got freedom from Great Britain, India has held 18 general elections through periods of internal and external turmoil, through times of attenuating poverty and negligible infrastructure, without for even once compromising on the fairness of the process.
Since 1947, when India got freedom from Great Britain, India has held 18 general elections through periods of internal and external turmoil, through times of attenuating poverty and negligible infrastructure, without for even once compromising on the fairness of the process.
The successful execution of an election warrants the complementary interplay between the citizens of a country and its political parties with a non-partisan referee—the Election Commission in the case of India. With a few minor deviations, all stakeholders have conscientiously carried out their duties in an exemplary fashion.
In the current election, India had approximately 970 million eligible voters out of a population of nearly 1.4 billion. More than half a billion voters (577,842,221 to be exact as per EC data) had cast their votes by the sixth phase, with voting percentages ranging from 62% to 69% for the different phases. This voter turn-out compares favourably with those in large or well-established democracies like the United States (62.8% in 2020) and the United Kingdom (62.3% in 2019) which boast of a sophisticated infrastructure and homogenized societies that facilitate the election process. However, to achieve this degree of participation in a country as ethnically, linguistically, financially and geographically diverse as India is in a feat itself and must be applauded. Indian citizens must be congratulated for their civic responsibility. Nevertheless, we must strive to reach higher voter participation in future elections.
In the current election, India had approximately 970 million eligible voters out of a population of nearly 1.4 billion. More than half a billion voters (577,842,221 to be exact as per EC data) had cast their votes by the sixth phase, with voting percentages ranging from 62% to 69% for the different phases. This voter turn-out compares favourably with those in large or well-established democracies like the United States (62.8% in 2020) and the United Kingdom (62.3% in 2019) which boast of a sophisticated infrastructure and homogenized societies that facilitate the election process. However, to achieve this degree of participation in a country as ethnically, linguistically, financially and geographically diverse as India is in a feat itself and must be applauded. Indian citizens must be congratulated for their civic responsibility. Nevertheless, we must strive to reach higher voter participation in future elections.
The real star of the 18th general elections is the Election Commission of India. It has picked its way gingerly and effectively through a volatile, sensitive and polarized political climate to come out in flying colours. Barring any mishaps in the last phase, these elections can be considered a tremendous success; the process has been largely peaceful save for isolated instances of violence reported from strife-torn Manipur and parts of West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
The Election Commission has continued to conduct its duties in a non-partisan manner. Complaints have been handled without any evidence of favouritism towards the ruling party. The defence offered by both the major parties (the BJP and Congress) to the complaints against them were deemed “not tenable”. Additionally, both party presidents were sternly instructed to rein in their star campaigners to ensure that they did not violate the MCC.
The Election Commission has continued to conduct its duties in a non-partisan manner. Complaints have been handled without any evidence of favouritism towards the ruling party. The defence offered by both the major parties (the BJP and Congress) to the complaints against them were deemed “not tenable”. Additionally, both party presidents were sternly instructed to rein in their star campaigners to ensure that they did not violate the MCC.
More importantly, this time the EC has acted pro-actively and authoritatively by calling out the unsubstantiated and frivolous charges levelled against it by a desperate Opposition to assure the public of the fairness of the process.
Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the INC had raised questions about the validity of the voter turnout figures published by the EC and in a letter to the I.N.D.I Alliance partners had alleged: “As you are aware with the recent developments, the credibility of the ECI is at an all-time low. It is in public domain on how the ECI, perhaps for the first time in history, delayed the release of the final voting percentages of the first and second phase of the Lok Sabha elections… In my electoral life of 52 years, I have never witnessed such a high increment of voting percentages, in the final published data, that we now assume came from the later hours of voting on the polling days. All the aforementioned facts force us to ask a question—could this be an attempt to doctor the final results?
Mallikarjun Kharge, president of the INC had raised questions about the validity of the voter turnout figures published by the EC and in a letter to the I.N.D.I Alliance partners had alleged: “As you are aware with the recent developments, the credibility of the ECI is at an all-time low. It is in public domain on how the ECI, perhaps for the first time in history, delayed the release of the final voting percentages of the first and second phase of the Lok Sabha elections… In my electoral life of 52 years, I have never witnessed such a high increment of voting percentages, in the final published data, that we now assume came from the later hours of voting on the polling days. All the aforementioned facts force us to ask a question—could this be an attempt to doctor the final results?
The EC categorically refuted these allegations as “blatant inaccuracies” and posted the following on its website:
* Reiterates that nobody can change data of votes polled, shared on poll day with polling agents of all candidates through Form 17C.
* Voter turnout data was always available with candidates and 24×7 on Voter Turnout APP for citizens at large.
* Reiterates that nobody can change data of votes polled, shared on poll day with polling agents of all candidates through Form 17C.
* Voter turnout data was always available with candidates and 24×7 on Voter Turnout APP for citizens at large.
In its letter to Mr Kharge, the EC was even more critical charging the INC president of obstructing the election process: “Commission wishes you to appreciate that your comments/ observations/ allegations given in the aforesaid post borders on vitiating the constitutionally mandated work of ECI…’Through innuendos and insinuations, the contents of the post, tend to create disharmony in respect of the delicate space of election management, can plant doubts in the mind of the voters and political parties and potentially creates an anarchic situation, when you said ‘could this be an attempt to doctor the final results?’ which this Commission hopes, you do not have any intention of.
Commission has faith that all stakeholders in Indian elections and most importantly the people of India will hold these observations of yours in equal contempt (sic).”
It is important at times for the referee to show the yellow card to errant players.
Elections are also a report card on the decisions of the previous government. The healthy turnout of voters in the Kashmir Valley (the voter participation jumped from 19% in 2019 to over 50% in the current elections for the 3 constituencies in the Kashmir Valley) is a clear vindication of the government’s decision to abrogate Article 370.
It is important at times for the referee to show the yellow card to errant players.
Elections are also a report card on the decisions of the previous government. The healthy turnout of voters in the Kashmir Valley (the voter participation jumped from 19% in 2019 to over 50% in the current elections for the 3 constituencies in the Kashmir Valley) is a clear vindication of the government’s decision to abrogate Article 370.
Whatever be the official outcome of this election, it is a feather in the cap for India especially its voters and for the EC. India is a thriving, robust democracy, arguably the greatest democracy on earth (especially post the 6 January antics in the US after Donald Trump lost the elections). Let not the V-Dems of the world or the western media, which is on a mission to discredit our democracy, tell us otherwise.
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