Editorial
A positive draft
Likely to eliminate black money and muscle power
We welcome the draft electoral law of the Election Commission (EC) for the very reason that it has incorporated many of the hitherto unfulfilled aspirations of the people of the country. The EC made it clear in the draft that if any candidate attempts to hide or give false information about personal records or election expenditure, his/her election results will be cancelled and the seat will be declared vacant. There will be provision for holding re-election for that seat at a later date. The other pertinent point is that political parties will also face cancellation of registration for failing to submit an authentic election expenditure record of the party and individual candidates. Here we find the provision of outright cancellation a bit severe, and feel a system of issuing a first warning and then suspension for a specific period could be introduced. If a party failed for the third time to come up with the accounts, EC will then take the final decision regarding cancellation of registration. Nevertheless, we strongly hold the view that these are some of the basic tenets without which no credible election can be held.
To be candid, if one goes through the salient points of the draft electoral law, one would find it echoing what the common people, civil society members, lawyer groups, professional groups, media and even the big political parties have been deliberating on for last many years. But unfortunately, through blatant manipulation, powerful quarters in the past kept the EC inactive to go for the required electoral reforms to allow democracy flourish in a free environment. This time around, with the setting of the electoral law in order, the opportunity for the people to elect honest and able candidates to power is around the bend.
The draft law is the tangible result of the dialogue the EC has been holding with the political parties for weeks now. There is no denying that the cooperation of the political parties and senior level leaders has made finalisation of the draft possible, hence they deserve appreciation from all quarters who want to see transition to the democratic process within the stipulated time. The electoral law reforms have come in the wake of the election roadmap and we are confident these will help ensure credibility, transparency and acceptability in the forthcoming general elections. Therefore, we strongly believe from here on elections will not be the same as in the past when candidates of questionable antecedents blatantly used black money and muscle power to get elected.
Understandably, the draft will need to be calibrated more to leave no pores for the unscrupulous to take advantage of. We are sure the competent team at the EC is doing its best at the moment. We want to see it made into a law without further ado.
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