Let's have credible UP polls

Ego-play is no longer an exclusive preserve, more precisely, a compulsive obsession, between the government and the opposition. Strange, unprecedented and unheard-of things are happening centring around Chief Election Commissioner's request for army deployment during UP polls. That it does not always take two to make an ego-play, one side being enough to stage it, has been exemplified. The issue of army deployment has given rise to an open conflict of opinion between the chief election commissioner and the government machinery. This has also generated an embarrassing dissension between field officials and ministry-level functionaries. There can be differing perceptions within the government of the law and order situation but for these to come out in this fashion is certainly something of a novelty. We would only like to interpret it in terms of the seriousness being reflected by all concerned to make sure that the UP elections are held neutrally, freely and fairly.

Whose views do we lend credence to regarding the congeniality or otherwise of the UP election environment? The obvious answer to that question would be: the men-on-the-spot. An overwhelming number of field level officials from various divisions, districts and sub-divisions in series of meetings with the chief election commissioner supported army deployment to ensure credible elections. They think this is needed in spite of the presence of Police, BDR and Ansar on election duties.

Even an apprehension has been expressed by some of field level functionaries that with the pull-out of the army from the joint operation, the old satans have started reappearing on the scene.

Although we are of the view that law and order will have to be basically maintained by the normal instrumentality of law enforcement, like the police and civil armed forces, elections are a different kettle of fish. If, in the opinion of the Election Commission, the army's services need to be utilised for ensuring credible polls such a view must prevail. We now have the latest assessment of the electoral atmospherics, just eight days before the polls, from the horse's mouth: district, sub-divisional and thana officials, who would act as returning or asstt returning officers. The chief election commissioner had written a letter as early as on December 29 to the Prime Minister seeking army deployment in the light of his reading of the situation afield. It is her political secretary who apparently took it upon himself to respond negatively to the CEC's request one time too many. Then, not before January 9, did any formal 'no' to the CEC's overture come -- through a special cabinet meeting. Now, the CEC's views and those of the field-level officials have converged; so, what is holding the government from deploying the army?

The home minister and home secretary seemed to have improvised a compromise formula, saying that the army will be acting as 'striking force' on a short notice, if and where deemed necessary. Even helicopter will be on a stand-by. Why not deploy the army then? Except for saying it will be 'unprecedented' if army were deployed for the UP polls, the government has not bothered to explain in public its reasons for the negative response.

The elections are at least a seven-week-long exercise, involving polls to 4228 union parishads. Even though such polls are not held on party tickets they constitute by far the most important electoral process at the grassroots. Major political parties scramble for a weightage in the outcome of such polls. The UP polls have always served as a barometer of public confidence in political parties at the most extensive local levels. The best way to ensure this would be for the government to let the chief election commissioner exercise his constitutional obligations in the best possible manner.

However, one cannot help being convinced by the way the government has been turning a deaf ear to the CEC's repeated SOS calls that its reactions are politically motivated. Things can be done by executive force but to earn credibility in a test-case situation respect for public opinion would be crucial. The people and the media are baffled as to why, in the matter of elections, the opinion of the CEC is not holding good.