Tamil Nadu civic elections – Doing more harm than good?
Considering several issues that happened during the recent civic election, Nandini Voice for The Deprived, a Chennai-based NGO, conducted a survey to ascertain the views of the general public on what they think about the recent civic election.
A cross-section of people was contacted amongst men and women and citizens belonging to different strata of society and they were clearly told that their identity would not be revealed. Those shortlisted for the survey exclude active politicians or members of any political party.
The highlights of the views expressed during the survey are as follows:
1. Importance of civic election
All respondents said that civic elections for local bodies can strengthen the grass-root democracy. For the purpose of achieving micro-level administration of local areas at desirable standards, civic bodies are extremely relevant. It would serve the purpose if civic elections to elect the ward members would be conducted in ideal conditions.
2. Should political parties participate in civic elections?
In the case of the civic elections, there are no policy issues involved.
What is required is that the administration of local bodies should be managed in efficient manner based on the local needs and conditions by committed persons with people’s mandate.
In such circumstances, there is a view that there is no reason why political parties should participate in civic elections. The contesting candidates should be independents. This would ensure that merit of the candidate would be the sole criteria for the people to vote, rather than the party affiliation of the candidate.
The reason why the recent civic elections process became very controversial was that political parties were allowed to participate and consequently a lot of counterproductive politicking happened, marring the standards of the civic election.
3. Allegations
During and after the recent civic election in Tamil Nadu, allegations and suspicions have been raised by some political parties about malpractice in the election process. A returning officer has admitted before the Madras High Court that he had rigged the election of a candidate due to tremendous pressure from a particular political party. When this news item appeared in the media many people suspected that this could not be an isolated incident and there could have been many more such rigging incidents.
Unfortunately, the state election commission does not seem to have taken note of such suspicions. It has not even cared to investigate or assert publicly that there was no malpractice, which has left the people in doubt.
4. Bribing voters
Several candidates, funded by their political parties to some extent, have been accused of spending a huge amount of money in campaigning and paying bribes to the voters.
The situation was reported to be so bad that a news item appeared that one candidate who lost the election demanded that the people to whom he has paid bribe should return back the money to him since he did not win the election. However, the state election commission does not appear to have taken note of this news item.
5. Winners switching over to other parties
It is seen that candidates who have won on behalf of one party switched over to another party immediately after winning, obviously not caring about public opinion.
After the election, when the election of mayor/ chairman took place, several candidates nominated by political parties lost the election, since the nominated person was defeated by their own party men. There is also a report that before this election by secret ballot, some candidates were taken to the luxury resorts, and money was paid for supporting the candidates for the post of mayor/ chairman.
Such reported conditions made voters think that they have been taken for a ride.
6. Voters dismayed
After reading about happenings during the recent civic elections and immediately after, many people wonder as to what sort of services many elected members to panchayats, municipalities and corporations would render to the people.
There is a view that the future for grass-root democracy in Tamil Nadu may go for a toss after the recent local body election.
What is extremely disturbing is that no leader of any political party seems to have expressed concern about such conditions.
7. Reforms needed
The process of conducting civic elections and the governing rules and regulations need major reforms.
There is a view that looking at the recent civic elections in Tamil Nadu, there is a need to examine as to whether civic elections should be conducted in such conditions, as they seem to be doing more harm than good if one would look in a holistic manner.
Future civic elections should take place only after deciding and introducing reform measures, which must necessarily include a condition that political parties should not be allowed to contest in local body elections.
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