Streamlining elections in Manipur: With a view- to streamlining electoral system in India, the Indian Parliament, through the Election Commission has been amending the sections, Articles and rules related to elections but w-ithout much success.

Each general election to both Parliament and State legislatures is accompanied by newer challenges. The new efforts of the Commission in this regard need to consider the socio-economic structures of different communities. In addition, India's heterogeneous entities should be taken into account while deciding new-tasks for streamlining our electoral system.

It is more a fact than myth that India, in spite of its enormous military and economic strength, could not uphold its democratic values during elections. This is a bigger yardstick than her stock indexes that we should address in a proper and fair manner as long as India choose to be democratic.

Otherwise, socio-political problems like the one we are experiencing in the north eastern states are more on the way.

Having taken into account the circumstantial courses, as discussed above, electioneering in India has been traversing under several laws, follow-ing points may be worth considering, at least for theoretical discussion:

1. Deployment of security forces during election bears only a little effect, as was again, recently promised by N Gopalaswami, the Chief Election Commissioner.

This measure can be warranted to ward off large-scale disturbances, only and in case, some elements posed challenge to the sovereignty of the country. Election Commission should not assume that such deployment of security forces would guarantee free and fair election. Never!

I have personally seen during the last 3/4 general elections that the concern of security forces is only the peaceful conduct of election. Unfortunately, under their nose, the strong and powerful supporters of a particular candidate would indeed vote 'peacefully'.

If any party or individual dare to question such irregular voting they became nuisance in the eyes of the security forces who prevent them from negotiating for the right cause.

2. Polling stations should not be made permanent. Permanent status of polling stations is always unruly used by antagonist supporters and tribesmen for monopolizing voters with muscle and money power.

Allotting of polling stations is done under the influence of either incumbent MLA or heavy weight politicians. In hill villages, polling station is considered the monopolistic positive feature of the village in which it is.

3. Polling agents of candidates/party should be armed with powers that are more stringent that can meet any foul practices in the process of casting of votes etc.

4. Necessary laws should be enacted to the effect that at least one contesting candidate each from two opposing national parties stands in every constituency.

The absence of strong opposition, especially in Manipur, gives easy chance as well as easy monopoly under unfair forced-judgement on the part of the voters.

5. The Election Commission should financially sponsor candidates belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category but to certain limit without having any official link or connection whatsoever with the commission. In our present context, only the rich and groups that command majority and who can exert some kinds of force can physically contest elections.

6. The services and all reports of factual renderings of the mass media while covering election process be given some legal credibility.

7. Model code of conduct became very ineffectual. It should be enforced from the time election notification is issued unlike the present practice of enforcing it after the announcement of election. Difference in the application should be made between the incumbent and the contesting candidates.

An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.
-George Eliot

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