Perhaps it is time for political parties to revive their squads of foot soldiers, the underlings, who do the drudge work, and once formed a valuable link between the leaders and the voters
When former chief Election Commissioner of India TN Seshan overhauled the electoral system in the ’90s — and did away with the ostentation, cacophony and unfair practices like rigging — it ended up depriving electioneering of the colour and flamboyance that once lent it a festive air. Away went the posters and the loudspeakers; but it also brought about a far-reaching change. In a state like Uttar Pradesh, the Dalits and other defenceless social groupings, who rarely showed up at booths fearing trouble by upper caste goons, began to walk up to cast their franchise and confront the oppressors unafraid. It was a revolution of sorts, which displeased most parties, barring the Bahujan Samaj Party of course.
Seshan’s successors did not add to his legacy, but tried hard to enforce his commandments in their own way. But somewhere down the line, the former EC’s bequest started to get diluted, to a point that most recently even the Opposition assailed the commission for not being “appropriately autonomous”.
Seshan’s successors did not add to his legacy, but tried hard to enforce his commandments in their own way. But somewhere down the line, the former EC’s bequest started to get diluted, to a point that most recently even the Opposition assailed the commission for not being “appropriately autonomous”.