Newly appointed State Election Commissioner, Retired IAS officer WV Ramanmurthy, faces a monumental challenge of bringing fairness to elections and also restoring the sanctity of his post which has been historically trampled upon by political forces. To make it worse, the Supreme Court’s critical comments of his predecessor will weigh heavily on his mind as he takes charge.
Lesser-known Ramanmurthy will have to shed all the baggage and tags that a retired bureaucrat usually carries even after retirement, and move away from that comfort zone. His stints as managing director of Economic Development Corporation and Secretary of Water Resources are not going to hold him in good stead because the job at hand demands neutrality. Upholding democratic principles, enforcing autonomy and exercising objectivity are never going to be easy in a setup that has a proven track record of cosiness with the ruling powers. To make matters worse, Ramanmurthy faces the tough task of erasing the footprints left by his predecessor Law Secretary Chokha Ram Garg.
While the new SEC settles down to his job, he will face an immediate dilemma over a scheduled counting of the first phase voting on March 22. The Opposition is moving from pillar to post pressing for a combined count of both phases so that an outcome of the first phase doesn't influence the yet-to-be-announced second phase. History tells us that a common counting day is announced for elections held in phases, even if they are staggered across months. The purpose of such a system is to negate any electoral advantage that could accrue if results are declared separately.
At a time when elections are turning into murky slugfests between political parties and the government, can Ramanmurthy set a new order on the lines of Chief Election Commissioner of India T.N Seshan whose fiery zeal and ruthless approach between 1990 and 1996 triggered fear and discipline in politicians? Goa needs an upright and fearless SEC, one that does not act as an informal election agent of the ruling dispensation. The State needs an SEC who upholds the dignity of the office in the strictest sense. We need an SEC who exercises his independence with authority and still earns the respect across the fraternity.
On Saturday, six municipalities and the Corporation of the City of Panaji will go to polls along with the bypolls for a few panchayat wards across the State and the Zilla Panchayat bypoll for the Navelim seat. The municipal election is seen as a semi-final for political parties and candidates. The same goes for Ramanmurthy ahead of the 2022 assembly elections.
Let's be reminded that the State elections promise to be an intense and gruelling battle of money, muscle and electoral power, and the election body will have a task cut out in this high-stakes battle. The SEC primarily has a supreme responsibility towards the people of Goa, and this is what it all boils down to “ conducting a free and fair election. Is Ramanmurthy going to signal a change?
