The election commissioner should have his say

We are dismayed that one of the election commissioners was forced to walk out of an election preparatory meeting because he was not allowed to voice his proposals regarding how to hold a free, fair and inclusive election. It is unfortunate that the election commissioner's proposals were not included in the agenda. Moreover, why was the commissioner not allowed to speak? What does this kind of non-cooperation within the EC do to public confidence?

The recommendations that did not see the light of day were quite pertinent to the ground realities of our electoral environment. They included holding talks with all the political parties, finding ways to ensure impartiality, increasing the EC's ability to exercise its power, having a dialogue with the government regarding recommendations put forward by the political parties and the role of the army during elections. These proposals seem perfectly reasonable and logical for an election commissioner to put forward.

We believe that while election is not the be-all and end-all of a healthy democracy, it is definitely the single most important exercise for voters to elect their representatives to the government. And the Election Commission is the main actor responsible for making this happen through a free and fair election. This responsibility, moreover, is not confined to just Election Day but for all the days leading up to it. So it is all the more disappointing to see such an undemocratic move within the EC. Unfortunately, the track record of the past ECs has not been particularly commendable, with problems of credibility and image constantly plaguing it.

By not allowing a democratic culture to thrive within the EC, it is making itself weak and ineffective. We hope this trend will be reversed and the EC is allowed to exercise its power without any interference.