The February 14 voting saw the State decorated with hues of pink adding colour and sparkle to an otherwise sombre Valentine's Day. From pink polling stations to making all-round outreaches via signboards, advertisements and social media messages that connected ‘love and voting’ showed that the poll authority did put in efforts to woo voters. That the vulnerable sections of society such as transgender and sex workers came out and voted is a testimony of the special initiatives taken. The pilot project on an Artificial Intelligence-based system of the webcast to monitor 100 polling stations is another welcome innovation keeping with the need for increased surveillance.
However, that's the one side where the Election Commission scored high. But on the flip side, it once again failed to move boundaries and address the gripping issue of ‘money power’ at elections. Against the backdrop of putting cosmetics and technology at play, the poll officials failed to arrest the huge flow of money in the last two days before voting. If pink booths was a highlight this election, so also was the pink note. Given the tight contests and the uncertainties of this election, candidates and their workers went on a money-distribution spree delivering cash at residences even in broad daylight.
The claim of Inspector General of Police Rajesh Kumar that Rs 12.72 crore worth of liquor, gold, silver, narcotics and cash has been seized in the run-up to the election pales out when money distribution running into crores of rupees was going unchecked in almost all constituencies. What purpose does the surveillance serve if the Election Commission is failing to uphold its primary duty of ensuring a free and fair election? And what good do all the aesthetics and the décor serve in the larger electoral exercise, other than the feel-good factor?
Even if the cosmetic part was taken care of, the crucial issue of time delays in the voting exercise was not addressed, and there were time wastages due to systemic overlaps that finally led to a delay in compiling data pushing timelines very late into the night. Several booths saw serpentine queues that moved at a snail's pace putting the voter at discomfort. Also, the provision of the single glove was not made in several booths, raising questions of the seriousness behind safety protocol.
The election is an elaborate exercise involving vast manpower and resources, and the Election Commission did well to ensure that material and kits were in place. To add a dash of smartness, workers on duty were provided T-shirts distributed with constituency names printed on them. However, the arrangements for refreshments and meals were so inconsistent that some poll staff that had left their far-away residences like Canacona in the wee hours of the morning had to manage with literally no snacks and food throughout the day and till the wee hours of the next day.
There may be a faint feeling of accomplishment with a 78.94 per cent turnout, along with the largely peaceful voting that was witnessed. However, the bottom line is that the Election Commission failed once again to rise to its core responsibility of conducting a free and fair election.
