Political parties and candidates distributing freebies and goodies to sections of society in an attempt to grab votes has been a common phenomenon in India. It’s been going on for generations, and the election machinery has considerably failed to keep pace with it. However, there is another area “ poll-related schemes and financial doles promised by parties if elected to power “ where the Election Commission of India (ECI) has completely turned a blind eye to. Thankfully, the Supreme Court is now seized with the matter.
In a striking observation, the Chief Justice of India NV Ramana admitted the seriousness of the issue and observed that in some cases the budget for these freebies goes beyond the regular allocation. He raised questions on how this issue could be managed or controlled and issued notices to the Centre and the ECI. The CJI observations followed a petition filed in the apex court seeking stringent guidelines against parties that promise "irrational freebies" using public funds.
Come elections, and common citizens are lured into all sorts of schemes and promises without any rational thinking on delivery. These schemes have become an unfair means to swing electoral advantage. Parties have been able to outsmart the election code here because there is no accountability on these schemes. At a time when the Election Commission engages its machinery in bringing down hoardings and other election material, there is a glaring systemic failure that is staring at us.
Elections have focussed on takeaways for common citizens. In these pandemic-hit years where spending has hit an all-time low, and inflation rising exponentially, the common citizens have been more vulnerable to these lucrative schemes. Parties have exploited the situation by making unrealistic promises without explaining the financial implications on the State, thereby defeating the fairness of an election. It is baffling to understand the extravagant flow of money when the State is staring at a grim fiscal situation where the government of the day is struggling to pay even its existing bills.
Political parties have used these schemes as bait for voters, while also engaging in one-upmanship completely shaking the foundations of a free and fair election. From unemployment doles to financial aid to women, political parties have been talking purely in terms of cash. Instead, there should have been a focus on improving the quality of life of the people through sustained development, providing better facilities and services, creating more job opportunities and more importantly raising revenues. There are dozens of other areas that need attention.
The Election Commission of India which is a constitutional body having supervisory and directional control over an election has been scanning the spending of candidates and parties and making them accountable. It has, however, overlooked an area that is significantly critical to elections, one that dents the objective of this democratic process to a large extent. Political parties cannot be allowed to manipulate the system and deceivingly run ‘cash for votes’ schemes. The ECI should have stepped in.
