Poll integrity and self-sabotage, parties and the ECI , Pg8

Key Highlights:

• Flawed electoral rolls, including inaccurate details and ghost voters, are eroding public trust in representative democracy.
• The Election Commission of India (ECI), once highly credible, faces criticism for opacity and failing to address inconsistencies in electoral rolls.
• Political parties, focused on efficient electoral strategies, have weakened their local organizations, impacting the integrity of electoral rolls.
• The Booth Level Agent (BLA), a key link between parties, voters, and the ECI, is crucial for scrutinizing and correcting electoral rolls.
• Irregularities in the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency in Karnataka raise questions about BLA influence and ECI oversight.
• Political parties have an opportunity to revitalize local units and prioritize electoral roll revisions for healthy democratic functioning.

Detailed Insights:

• The ECI's credibility declined after the 1990s when it actively curbed electoral malpractices under T.N. Seshan.
• Parties are shifting from labor-intensive local campaigning to digital communication, weakening enduring political linkages.
• Professional consultants shape campaign strategies, centralizing power within parties and reducing the role of local workers.
• The ECI manual emphasizes consultation with recognized political parties during electoral roll revision.
• BLAs are tasked with assisting Booth-level officers in scrutinizing draft rolls and aiding corrections.
• ECI regulations prohibit bulk applications and limit the number of applications BLAs can file daily to prevent manipulation.
• Heightened awareness has prompted parties to scrutinize draft rolls for local body elections more diligently.
• Weak local organizations can distort democracy, as seen in the subversion of land reforms post-Independence.
• Institutional leaders prioritizing short-term goals over constitutional norms erode citizen trust and hollow out institutions.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Electoral Roll: A list of persons eligible to vote in an election.
• Booth Level Agent (BLA): Representatives of political parties assisting Booth-level officers in electoral processes.
• Model Code of Conduct: Guidelines issued by the ECI for political parties and candidates during elections.