Play Fair In Polls

With 42 days left in run up to the election of the House of Representatives and provincial assemblies, the poll atmosphere is heating up with issues now centering on finalising candidacies. This is an issue that witnesses lengthy and hectic parleys in party offices and residences of political party leaders. Regarding the proportional poll candidacies, the closed lists have already been submitted to the Election Commission and the parties have been allotted time to make changes in the list, if any. And the Commission publishes the notice indicating that the closed lists of proportional candidates are sealed. On the first-past-the-post (FPTP) front, party leaderships were busy even during the Dashain festival holding crucial meetings on the tricky subject of finalising candidacies. Negotiations, hectic calls, lobbying, personal approaches, delegation meetings and even factional protests take place in this process. 

This is a political exercise that calls for fair assessment of performance, adherence to party discipline, dedication to the public good, the ability of mass penetration, historical sacrifice for the party, securing bigger chance of poll victory, gender inclusion, regional balance and a host of other considerations. For the leadership, finalising the roster of party candidates is something that requires sleepless and tightrope exercise. The most disliked aspect of this work is a tendency of putting the kith and kin on the top list of priority while dismissing the qualification earned by sacrifice and service to the people. What deserves mass trust and awe of the party rank and file is the resolute approach to make ruthless decision to ignore the call of palm greasing, flattery and sycophancy. It takes boldness and unquestionable level of statesmanship to ensure fair deal in political parties. That is the true recipe to win the heart and minds of the people. 

The Election Commission has enforced the poll code of conduct and has called upon all the political stakeholders to abide by it so that elections can be held in a free and fair manner. Partying and feasting can take place under the cover up of festival celebrations to influence the voters. This is a tendency that should be avoided altogether. In this respect, the Election Commission has cautioned about such party throwing and banned such activities. The commission has also fixed the ceilings of electoral expenditures and mentioned the particular activities that can be carried out as part of poll canvassing. A prominent feature of fixing poll expenditure ceiling this time is that the amounts of expenditure differ from one constituency to another. 

This decision has come on the basis of complaints that a uniform ceiling cannot be practical and fair for all constituencies and districts. There was a call to decide the ceiling of election expenditure with a scientific logic, that is, on the basis of the area of a constituency and its population. A fair logic can be drawn from a simple fact that a larger family needs larger expenditure than a smaller one. The political stakeholders have taken this decision of EC with approval as it does justice to the concerned parties and candidates. Voices have also been raised that some of the provisions of the code are still too harsh and impractical. For the sake of fairness, voices need to be heard and addressed. However, no leeway should be given for undue advantage and uncalled for anomalies.