Gyanesh Kumar who begins his four-year time period as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Wednesday will probably be on the helm of the Election Fee (EC) because it faces a spread of challenges. Amongst different issues, he should assist the ballot physique lay the groundwork for potential simultaneous polls and delimitation.
1. Bridging belief deficit
The connection between the EC and the Opposition has been tense for a number of years now, with the divide solely deepening through the Lok Sabha, Haryana, and Maharashtra elections final 12 months and the Delhi Meeting polls this month.
Kumar takes cost at a time when the Congress has raised questions in regards to the enhance in voter numbers in Maharashtra and the Aam Aadmi Get together (AAP) has raised questions in regards to the electoral rolls in Delhi.
Other than questioning the electoral rolls, Opposition events, over the previous 12 months, have additionally questioned the integrity of Digital Voting Machines (EVMs), the voter turnout knowledge, and the scheduling of elections. In the course of the Delhi polls, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal hit out at Rajiv Kumar, who retired as CEC on Tuesday, accusing him of “damaging” the ballot physique.
Whereas the EC maintains a steadiness in its actions and communication with events and their leaders, there have been situations of robust statements prior to now 12 months. Responding to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s letter elevating the problem of delay in releasing voter turnout knowledge, the EC in Could warned, “Utterances from President of Nationwide Political Get together attacking the very credibility of the electoral steps and processes can have a damaging impression on voter participation and may be seen as a method to discourage an elector from exercising their franchise and/or demoralising the large variety of election workers and equipment which is principally drawn from the respective State Governments.”
The Congress hit again, saying the reply was a “everlasting blot” on the EC’s fame.
2. Growing voter turnout
The nation is anticipated to have 1 billion voters by subsequent 12 months. Whereas that will probably be an vital milestone, equally vital will probably be rising voter turnout. Over the previous three Lok Sabha elections, the turnout has remained virtually stagnant: 66.44% in 2014, 67.4% in 2019, and 66.1% in 2024.
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On the finish of the final Lok Sabha elections, Rajiv Kumar acknowledged that the period of the elections (seven phases and 44 days) and their timing (it was held amid the scorching summer time warmth of April to June) possible had an impression on the turnout. How the EC beneath Gyanesh Kumar responds to this will probably be among the many issues to be careful for.
3. Pending electoral reforms
When a new CEC takes workplace, it’s a apply to check out the pending proposals for electoral reforms that the EC has despatched to the federal government for consideration and the brand new points that must be flagged.
In his farewell speech, Rajiv Kumar gave some solutions: biometric authentication earlier than voting to stop impersonation and a number of voting; the introduction of a totaliser machine so as to add up the votes of all EVMs of a constituency earlier than the outcomes are launched, as an alternative of the polling booth-wise outcomes which might be accessible now, to guard the secrecy of the vote; distant voting for migrants; and permitting NRIs to vote.
Other than these, there are long-pending reforms that the ballot physique has proposed to the Legislation Ministry through the years, together with decreasing the restrict of money donations to events and capping the election expenditure of events.
4. Groundwork for simultaneous elections
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As Gyanesh Kumar takes cost, two Payments that will pave the way in which for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and all of the Assemblies are pending with Parliament. A Joint Committee of Parliament is inspecting the Payments launched final December.
If handed as is, the Payments will enable simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies in 2034 if the five-year cycle of the legislature isn’t damaged by early dissolution. As CEC until 2029, Kumar and his successor should lay the groundwork for the mammoth train. Lead time for the manufacturing of EVMs and VVPATs, plans for his or her storage and upkeep, and administrative necessities will probably be on EC’s agenda.
5. Mannequin Code of Conduct
The final two Lok Sabha campaigns have seen the BJP and the Opposition accuse one another of vitiating the ambiance throughout elections, with complaints being filed towards prime leaders, together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Residence Minister Amit Shah and Lok Sabha Chief of Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
The Opposition has, repeatedly, criticised the EC for not appearing on complaints towards the PM, Shah, and different prime BJP leaders. In the course of the Lok Sabha elections final 12 months, the ballot physique took the unprecedented resolution to difficulty notices to the presidents of BJP and Congress for speeches made by Modi and Gandhi.
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The EC issued 13 notices through the elections, handing out marketing campaign bans in three instances. In elections prior to now few years, the EC has issued notices however didn’t comply with by with any motion. Sources mentioned the ballot physique considered this strategy as a “ethical censure” — {that a} discover can be sufficient to ship a message to the chief and social gathering involved. Nonetheless, with this strategy failing to cease divisive speeches, the brand new CEC is confronted with the problem of utilizing the MCC extra successfully.
