The December 21 R K Nagar by-election is as much a challenge for the Election Commission as it is for the AIADMK to retain the prestigious seat that got vacated after party icon J Jayalalithaa’s death. The last time it was notified for polling on April 12, the electoral process was rescinded after income tax raids in 35 locations in the state found humungous voter inducement with the ruling party candidate T T V Dhinakaran allegedly having a budget of `89 crore. Some other candidates too used innovative ways to bribe voters but the brazenness with which Dhinakaran went about it was mind-boggling.
All this happened under the nose of the EC, which had taken unprecedented steps to reduce malpractices, including transferring out the entire rank and file of police and revenue departments. And for the first time ever, as many as five observers were deployed in a constituency. Yet, mysterious power cuts at night, token distribution for redeeming on a later date and interesting catchphrases like ‘Prayed to the Lord?’ ensured the goodies reached the targeted voters.
This time around, the EC has imposed tougher norms. It has already restricted door-to-door campaigning to daytime since allurements are often delivered after sundown. At night, paramilitary forces would comb the lanes and bylanes, so people carrying wads of money at night in RK Nagar better watch out. Transactions through tokens too have been banned till the by-election is over.
However, with the law of supply and demand at work, candidates will still look for innovative ways to ‘reward’ voters who see elections as payback time. So, besides educating voters on the value of the vote, it is for the EC to put the fear of god in the wrongdoers. Also, it ought to stay neutral, act upon all complaints in the shortest possible time and deliver exemplary punishment to the offenders. That alone will make it a free and fair by-election and ensure parties treat the EC with the dignity it deserves.