[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The comments by Election Commissioner OP Rawat come in the backdrop of the recent Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat where the Congress and other opposition parties had alleged that BJP indulged in horse-trading, intimidation of Congress MLAs

In a sharp and strident indictment of the existing political and electoral system in India, Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat has said that winning elections “at all cost, without ethics, is the new normal in politics”. Rawat called for “exemplary action” by political parties, media, civil society organisations, constitutional authorities and all those having faith in democratic polity against this disturbing norm.

The Election Commissioner’s comments come close on the heels of the dramatic Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat where the Congress party faced sudden defections and cross-voting that almost cost its senior leader, Ahmed Patel, a fifth term in the Upper House. The Congress had alleged that the BJP was indulging in horse-trading and had been constantly intimidating its MLAs to ensure that Patel loses out to BJP nominee Balwantsinh Rajput – who had quit the Congress and joined the saffron party days before the Rajya Sabha polls.

Addressing the media at the Regional Consultation on Electoral and Political Reforms – Northern Region organised by the Association for Democratic Reforms,on Thursday, Rawat said: “Democracy thrives when elections are free, fair and transparent. However, it appears to a cynical common man… We have been scripting a narrative that places maximum premium on winning at all costs to the exclusion of ethical considerations. Winning the elections at all cost, without ethics, is the new normal in politics.”

In comments that seemed like a reference to the BJP, which has in recent months inducted a slew of leaders from various Opposition parties – more particularly the Congress – Rawat said: “The winner can commit no sin; a defector crossing over to the ruling camp stands cleansed of all the guilt as also possible criminality, etc. It is this creeping ‘new normal’ of political morality that should be the target for exemplary action by all political parties, politicians, media, civil society organisations, constitutional authorities and all those having faith in democratic polity for a better election, a better tomorrow”.

“In this narrative, the poaching of legislators is extolled as smart political management (through) strategic introduction of money for allurement, tough-minded use of state machinery for intimidation – all commended as resourcefulness,” Rawat added.

The ADR, which had organised the conference where Rawat made his pertinent observations, also released a report which reveals how between financial year 2012-2013 and 2015-2016 corporate houses had donated a total of Rs. 956.77 crore to five national parties – BJP, Congress, NCP, CPI and CPM – which accounted for 89 per cent of the total contribution of over Rs 1000 crore from known sources. The BJP has the biggest beneficiary – earning over Rs 700 crore – of these donations.

The Congress party, on Friday, endorsed Rawat’s comments and said that the Election Commission must initiate reforms regarding electoral management and funding.

“The kind of laws which this (BJP) government is enacting- making corporate donations anonymous through the process of bonds, removing the cap on the amount of their net profit, which a company can donate to a political party – are all retrogressive steps in their entirety (sic),” said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]