The manner in which elections are held has drastically changed over the years. Many of the measures taken are in the right direction but much more needs to be done to ensure free and fair polls with a level playing field to all candidates in the fray. The Election Commission officials have miserably failed to curb the distribution of cash and other freebies being brazenly adopted by candidates to buy votes. Something drastic would have to be done to curb this menace of money and muscle power which has been overshadowing the conduct of elections at all levels. Elections will be meaningful only if the Election Commission is truly independent and not susceptible to the pulls and pressures of the ruling party. The Election Commission spends a lot of money on various programmes including the ones organized to motivate people to vote. A lot of expenditure incurred is unnecessary and wasteful. At least at the Assembly level, the Election Commission should contemplate officially organizing a public debate in each constituency conducted by an independent moderator where the candidates could publicly articulate their views and plans while the voters could seek replies to their queries. This exercise may be too late to oraganise for these elections but could be planned from the 2027 assembly elections.
Aires Rodrigues, Ribandar
