Bihar elections: Media should go beyond caste

Bihar elections: Media should go beyond caste

(http://www.sify.com/news/bihar-elections-media-should-go-beyond-caste-imagegallery-features-pk5i0Weaabdjd.html)

Major General Mrinal Suman

Bihar is experiencing intense elections fever these days. Media coverage is exhaustive and every facet of the election campaign is being analysed threadbare. There is nothing wrong in it. However, it is obnoxious to see the overriding importance being assigned to the caste, creed, communal and regional factors. Caste-politics are being played out unabashedly under the disingenuous taxonomy of ‘social engineering’. 

All newspapers are running articles highlighting caste-wise configuration of every constituency to make their predictions. “In Arrah and Vaishali districts, saffron candidates seem to be have drawn support from EBCs and Dalits. This can help them build upon the solid backing saffron challengers are getting from upper castes, Vaishyas, Paswans and Musahars,” proclaims a report appearing in India’s leading daily of 29 Oct 2015.

The role being played by the electronic media is far worse. Focus of every survey and panel discussion is on the caste percentages and likely equations. It is sickening to hear anchors and panellists making divisive statements like – “All Yadavs will vote for Party A”; “Muslims will not vote for Party B”; “All Dalits are with Party C”; “”Kurmis will vote for Party D”; “Brahmins will remain loyal to Party E”; “Mahadalits are with Party F”; “Banias continue to support Party G”; and so on. Pray who will vote as an Indian?

Unlike BBC and Doordarshan, most TV channels lack resources to provide wider coverage across the nation and the world. For them, hosting of panel discussion during the prime-time is the most cost-effective, and perhaps the only option. Call a few aggressive spokespersons and initiate a free-for-all slanging match by throwing in an emotive and contentious issue. What can arouse passions more viciously than caste/religion? Every party plays the caste card shamelessly and yet has the temerity to paint others as communal. There cannot be a more disgraceful display of caste-politics.

Opinion polls and surveys are also carried out on similar lines. The questions are loaded with parochialism – “Has the Muslims vote got divided” or “Are mahadalits angry with Party X” or “Are Yadavs still with Party Y”? Thereafter, the findings are collated caste-wise, translated into vote-shares and debated at length in the studios to incite partisan emotions. Reprehensible indeed!

In a mature democracy, basis of electoral surveys should be economic progress, developmental matters, employment opportunities, educational facilities, health services and other welfare measures. What do the farmers, labourers and the office-goers feel? What are the aspirations of the youth? How to bridge the increasing urban-rural divide? Sadly, all issues that impact the well-being of the nation are ignored; only caste and communal loyalties matter.

 

If after 68 years of Independence we are sinking deeper into the morass of parochialism, elections are the root cause of the malady. Media acts a catalyst to spread the virus. Resultantly, the whole environment gets so vitiated that caste equations rule supreme with five highly devastating effects on the body-politic and unity of the country.

One, instead of making the voters rise above narrow parochial mindsets, they are repeatedly reminded of their caste and exhorted to stay faithful to it.

Two, the electorate is brainwashed not to seek accountability from their caste leaders but follow them blindly; even though most of them have acquired enormous wealth and done little for their followers in the past. Worse, many have either been convicted or are under investigation for serious crimes.

Three, assured of continuous support of their caste-based vote-banks, most politicians have converted their parties into family enterprises. They thrive by appealing to the insular instincts of their factions.

Four, stranglehold of caste-politics is so all-pervading that even the parties that want to break free are forced to look for winning candidates as per the caste mathematics of each constituency.

Finally and most unfortunately, merit, competence and honesty of the candidates have ceased to be any consideration. Only the caste matters. Some well-meaning citizens did try to fight elections to serve the nation, but tasted defeat at the hands of parochial leaders. Resultantly, the country is saddled with leaders of questionable character and quality.

The Way Forward

Under Art 324 of the Constitution, responsibility for the ‘superintendence, direction and control of elections’ is vested in the Election Commission. It is the guardian of free and fair elections.

However, the rule making authority under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 (preparation and revision of electoral rolls) and the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (all aspects of conduct of elections and post election disputes) lies with the Central Government. Despite repeated requests by the Election Commission that the rule making powers be transferred to it, albeit to be exercised in consultations with the Central Government, the proposal has not been accepted so far.

The above constraint notwithstanding, the Supreme Court of India has given far-reaching powers to the Election Commission by ruling that where the enacted laws are silent or make insufficient provision to deal with a given situation in the conduct of elections, the Election Commission has the residuary powers under the Constitution to act in an appropriate manner.

The Commission has done India proud by introducing many radical reforms to ensure free and fair elections. Since 1971, a Model Code of Conduct is issued for all elections. Observers are appointed to oversee its compliance. The Code lays down guidelines for the conduct of political parties and candidates during elections. Though lacking statutory sanction, the Code has been immensely successful in exerting moral pressure on all participants.

To curb the use of money power, the Commission has started laying down the maximum amount that a candidate can spend during the election campaign; the campaign period has been reduced from 21 to 14 days; and submission of expenditure returns within 30 days of the declaration of results has been made mandatory.

To help the voters in taking an informed decision, all candidates are required to declare their assets on affidavit. They have to reveal their criminal record as well. The Commission has also imposed restrictions on the publication and dissemination of opinion and exit polls to preclude undue influencing of the electorate.

From the above, it is amply clear that the Election Commission has enough powers to rid Indian elections of the divisive vote-bank politics. To achieve that, a two-pronged drive will be required.

  

First, any political party that does not swear by the integrity of the country and promotes hatred amongst various segments of Indian society on any grounds whatsoever must be proscribed. Communal parties which disallow membership to the followers of other religions should have no place in a secular country.

Secondly and more importantly, after the issuance of notification for elections, there should be a total ban on public surveys, opinion polls and discussions on caste composition of the electorate. No article should be allowed to appear in the print media spelling out proportions of different castes in a constituency and predicting their voting preferences. No TV channel should be allowed to dissect ‘social engineering’ of every constituency to forecast results. No politician should be allowed to invoke caste loyalties in his election campaign. In other words, there should be a blanket ban on public discussion of caste-based politics.

Finally

Undoubtedly, the politicians are the fountainhead of all fissiparous tendencies. They thrive by keeping the electorate embroiled in internal dissentions based on region, religion, caste and sub-caste considerations. Unfortunately, they cannot be expected to change as they believe in the ends and not the means employed. Their brand of vote-bank politics precludes letting the countrymen stay united and vote as free-thinking citizens. Therefore, only the threat of exemplary punishment can deter them from playing the caste card. The erring politicians must be made to understand that any misdemeanour will result in their debarment from standing in elections, thereby sealing their political careers.

If India continues to exist as a nation, credit is due to three institutions – the armed forces, the higher judiciary and the Election Commission. They are also India’s only hope. If India has to survive and prosper as a cohesive nation, the elections must be made issue and performance based.

The Election Commission is the only agency that has the potential and the power to pull India out of the quagmire of caste-based elections. It is a challenge that it must undertake with due urgency. It cannot waver, as delay will prove perilous for the unity of the country.*****