It is a shame on Kerala that by-election in Kannur cannot be held smoothly

By O.J.George

The Election Commission of India is a phenomenally gigantic apparatus which can conduct elections for the people of over 110 crore people smoothly.

On several occasions, the commission was able to find solution to vexing problems popping up in electoral times.

Alas, there are reports appearing daily that the by-election to Kerala Asssembly from Kannur constituency cannot be held in a free and fair manner. At least rival parties hurl abuses and indulge in machinations.

Are the officials free and can they discharge their functions fearlessly to uphold democratic principles?

If not, the election commission should take appropriate steps to dispense justice to all. There is no room for partisanship for an umpire who oversees the political match. And this should be convincing to the people.

The beauty of Indian democracy is that there is space for every kind of political opinion.

Sometimes, the space is overabundant that extremist elements also thrive. That is what we witness in about half of the areas of the Indian nation in the form of Naxalites or Maoists.

When there is no ideology for physical extermination of human beings, any outfit is okay. But the Maoists are on a killing spree, which cannot be justified on any count. Like that, undesirable tendencies in the election arena should be nipped in the bud.

Kannur is the most politically volatile district in the state, where the by-election would be, naturally, on a high voltage transmission of emotions. But venting of emotions should not be aimed at achieving ambitions at the cost of justice and fair play.

The CPM and the Congress are the major players there and they should cease activities to outwit the other at the cost of democratic exercise.

The district collector gives in writing that worksheets of electoral rolls should be given. The tahsildar provides in black and white that this cannot be done. Something is wrong somewhere.

The point is the CPM, Congress and BJP should have a feeling that good governance prevails in the electoral exercise.

If there is any breach, the election commission should plop down and save the murky situation from going out of hand.