Level playing field is a must
The forthcoming national election will take place on December 30. The election is vital for several reasons. As the election is expected to be the first participatory election under a partisan government, it will be challenging for the EC to hold it in a free and fair manner.
The government has vowed time and again that it will allow the election to be held in a credible manner. Most notably, the prime minister has assured opposition figures in recently held dialogues of creating an even playing field. She also reportedly promised to reconsider “political cases” against opposition leaders and activists.
However, a level playing field is barely visible at this moment, as thousands of opposition activists continue to be sued by the police—that too after the election schedule has been announced.
For us, a nascent democracy, a credible inclusive election will pave the way for establishing the rule of law. We don't want the election to be plagued by violence. We want peace and stability in order to exercise our voting rights without any undue interference. For that, the EC must play a strong role to create the conditions conducive for a credible poll.
Zillur Rahaman, By email
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