Our elections: Captive of party symbol?
Vote for whome, the candidate or the symbol?Photo: AFP
AFTER the national election of 2008 a journalist friend narrated an interesting story to me. When the journalist asked a voter whether he voted for Mr. X or Y, his answer was "none" then on the question whether he has voted for party "P" or "Q", this time too his answer was "none;" when he asked who then did he vote for? This time he told the journalist that he voted for "B" symbol. This is the stark reality in our voting pattern.
Let me now put on record the real situation that prevails in our pre-election campaign period. Divide between the two major political parties on political philosophy is very thin in reality, while rhetorics and semantics used by either party are atrociously at variance with each other.
Rampant abuse of Representation of the People's Order (RPO) with impunity, use of goons, gold and guns to scare and -- the voters have often discouraged people to cast their votes. So, most voters remain unconcerned as to what the leaders have to say in the campaign meetings or what slogans are written on the placard that are enthusiastically(?) carried by the paid supporters. To my understanding, all the prolific speeches or music played on public address system are mere facades as a large segment of the voters are generally cajoled to fix a mind set.
The other point that I want to focus on is the inclination of the political parties to eye on the winability of the candidate and not on his commitment to the cause of the people. Let us not miss out the criteria for obtaining nomination considered realistic in the current context of Bangladesh.
Some of these unfortunately are: Loyalty towards the leader than to the country, ability to contribute handsomely towards the already fat purse of the party, family legacy, ability to cultivate hardcore goons to coerce voters to vote in favour of their candidate. It is about time that the people of our country are awakened to the reality that if this continues, our heard earned democracy will be taken hostage by people unconcerned of the power of voters and unmindful of our rights to life and liberty.
I have firm conviction that the day shall dawn in near future when sanity and commitment will drive away the forces of disorder. Election Commission (EC) should feel obliged to hunt out the ills and replace them with worthy stipulations cutting across party lines. A state level discussion in the form of BBC conducted Shanglap may bring to fore the changes necessary.
I, however, want to give some points to ponder:
* All the voters must possess both national identity card (NID) and voter number. Holding of only NID should not suffice.
* Voters should not be allowed to come to polling centre on candidate's vehicle. If going is difficult, EC should make arrangement for conveyance, expense of which may be reimbursed by the candidates.
* Government and NGOs can be engaged to convince the voters not to accept gratification from the candidate.
* Scouts and non-partisan youth can be engaged to help govt apparatus to monitor aberrations of the EC's stipulations.
* Summary action on violation of RPO should be encouraged. EC may seek assistance of local people with reputation for disposal.
* Non-locals should be discouraged to contest in by-election. Procedure of obtaining signature of 10% voters in support of a non-local candidate for by election even if he is nominated by a political party should be followed.
* A candidate shouldn't be allowed to contest in more than two constituencies and the second constituency should be one where the local voters know the candidate.
* People should be informed before election about the constituency the candidate would vacate if the candidate wins in both.
* Details of the candidates in the form of curriculum vitae (CV) duly scrutinised by the EC should be distributed to voters.
* Female voters must be encouraged to exercise their rights.
* Broad screen TV display about the candidates' attributes and claims should be arranged in every union so that all the voters can see the event to enable them to decide who to vote for.
* Parties should nominate candidates who enjoy the reputation of being honest and committed to cause of the people.
* Parties should refrain from asking for donations from the candidates.
* Party's top leader should not campaign at constituency level. Leader may hold one meeting per division. Candidates can show on TV screens what the leader has to say about what the party would do if voted to power.
* Projection meeting of the candidates of all parties from one platform under the sponsorship of EC should be arranged.
* RPO violators should be given punishment summarily.
* A fixed amount of money to cover the election expenditure of the candidate can be taken in advance from each candidate by the EC. EC should return the unexpended amount to the candidate after proper auditing within 60 days of holding of the election.
* Photograph of the candidates should be printed alongside the party symbol in the ballot papers to enable identification of the person they are voting for,
* There should be no hesitation about deploying security forces to guard against possible violence.
There could be many more points that may weigh high to deserve consideration. I urge upon all thinkers to contribute so that EC can pick up its cue from the myriad of ideas that will pour in from all shades of our society. Parties should keep in mind while selecting candidates that moral constraints are not compromised and ethical barriers are not crossed.
Nation must be motivated by media and civil society so that necessary reform finds its way into the hearts and minds of the people at large. Let us hope that this paves the way for good people to contest and win the election because of their being honest and committed and not because they carry a symbol that is known as they see those all around.
The writer is a former Director General of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies, Dhaka.
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