Local Body Elections Conundrum | 22 Jun 2023

A state election commission is an autonomous and constitutional body that is responsible for conducting elections for urban local bodies and panchayats in a state. The state election commissioner is appointed by the governor of the state and cannot be removed from office except on the grounds and manner specified for a judge of a high court. A state election commission ensures that elections are conducted in a free, fair and unbiased way and also updates the electoral rolls and implements the model code of conduct.

Local body elections are an important aspect of democracy in India, as they empower the people at the grassroots level to participate in governance and development. However, in some states, such as West Bengal, these elections witnessed political violence and intimidation, which undermine the democratic process and the rule of law.

What are the Causes and Consequences of Local Election Violence?

• Causes:
  • Competition for Power and Resources:
    • When elections are seen as a zero-sum game, where the winner takes all and the loser gets nothing, the stakes are high and the incentives for violence are strong. This can lead to intimidation, harassment, or assassination of political opponents, supporters, or electoral officials.
  • Ethnic or Religious Polarization:
    • When elections are along ethnic or religious lines, they can exacerbate existing cleavages and grievances, and create a sense of existential threat for some groups.
    • This can lead to hate speech, discrimination, or communal clashes.
  • Weak Institutions and Rule of Law:
    • When elections are not well-managed, transparent, or credible, they can undermine trust and legitimacy in the electoral process and the outcome.
    • This can lead to protests, riots, or rejection of results by the losing side.
  • Other Forms of Organized Violence:
    • When elections take place in contexts where there is ongoing civil war, insurgency, terrorism, or criminality, they can be affected by these forms of violence or trigger new ones.
    • This can lead to disruption, sabotage, or coercion of the electoral process or the voters.
• Consequences:
  • Violate Human Rights and Dignity:
    • Political violence can cause physical harm, psychological trauma, displacement, or death for the victims and their families.
  • Undermine Electoral Integrity and Accountability:
    • Political violence can distort the will of the people, reduce voter turnout, or influence voting behavior through fear or favor.
    • It can also prevent effective monitoring, observation, or adjudication of electoral disputes.
  • Erode Trust and Social Cohesion:
    • Political violence can damage the reputation and legitimacy of the electoral institutions and the elected representatives.
    • It can also increase polarization, resentment, or hostility among different groups in society.
  • Impede Development and Stability:
    • Political violence can disrupt economic activities, public services, or infrastructure.
    • It can also create insecurity, uncertainty, or instability that can deter investment, growth, or cooperation.

What is the Role of the State Election Commission in Containing Violence?

• The role of the State Election Commission (SEC) in containing political violence is to ensure that elections are conducted in a free, fair and unbiased way.
• The SEC has the power of superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and the Municipalities.
• The SEC also implements the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) before every election to be followed by the different candidates and parties so that the decorum of the electoral process is maintained well.
• The SEC can cancel polls in case of booth capturing, rigging, violence and other irregularities.
• The SEC is expected to act as an independent and impartial constitutional authority that safeguards the democratic rights of the people.

What are Challenges with Functioning of SEC?

• Lack of Autonomy:
  • Although the state election commission on many occasions tried to exercise its duties enshrined in the constitution of India, they struggled to assert their independence. For example:
    • In Maharashtra, SEC had asserted that he should have the power to hold elections to the offices of mayor, deputy mayor, sarpanch and deputy sarpanch.
    • On the contrary, he was arrested and sent to jail for two days in March 2008 after the Legislative Assembly found him guilty of breach of privilege in an alleged conflict over his jurisdiction and powers.
• Lack of Safeguard for SEC:
  • Though the State Election Commissioner shall not be removed from his/her office except in like manner and on the like grounds as a Judge of a High Court (Art 243K(2)), yet it has been diluted on many instances.
  • In the Aparmita Prasad Singh vs. State of U.P. (2007) the Allahabad High Court held that if the Governor has power to fix or prescribe tenure by rule, he also enjoys the power to amend the rule, either for extending the term of the tenure or reducing the same.
  • Once the prescribed tenure comes to end, the incumbent SEC must cease to hold office, and this shall not amount to removal from office.
• Non-Uniform Service Conditions for SECs:
  • Article 243K(2) states that the tenure and appointment will be directed as per the law made by the state legislature and thus each SEC is governed by a separate state Act.
  • This gives power to states to amend rules unilaterally and even sometimes take ordinance routes to bypass legislative scrutiny like the recent example of Andhra Pradesh SEC.

What are the Measures to Strengthen the SEC?

Strengthening state election commission can help in improving the quality and credibility of local elections, as well as preventing or reducing political violence. Some of the possible ways to strengthen state election commission are:

• Ensuring Adequate Resources and Staff:
  • State election commission should have sufficient funds, personnel, equipment, and infrastructure to carry out its functions effectively and efficiently.
  • The governor should make available to the state election commission such staff as may be necessary for the discharge of its functions.
• Enhancing Independence and Accountability:
  • State election commission should be free from any political interference, pressure, or influence from any source.
  • State election commissioner should not be removed from office except on the grounds and manner specified for judge of high court. State election commission should also be accountable to the public and the law for its actions and decisions.
• Improving Electoral Management and Dispute Resolution:
  • State election commission should adopt best practices and standards for electoral management, such as voter registration, voter education, polling arrangements, counting, and declaration of results.
  • State election commission should also have effective mechanisms for resolving electoral disputes, complaints, and grievances in a timely and impartial manner.