Why there is no rigging in Indian elections
Why is there no rigging in the Indian election? Elections in India, which is seven times the size of Pakistan, are spread over a period of at least one month. Recently in Gujrat, it took the election conducting authorities five days to conduct the elections and count the votes before announcing the result. Theoretically, this should enable heavy rigging, but no losing candidate in India has ever accused the winner of indulging in rigging. The reason, of course, is that the election commissioner and others conducting the elections are scrupulously honest and impartial. The Indian superior judiciary is, by and large, incorruptible, although corruption in the lower courts has been recorded.
This should tell us that to make sure that no rigging takes place, we need to have an independent election commissioner. Also, it doesn’t make sense to have both national and provincial elections on the same day, as mistakes can be made in counting the votes under pressure. There is also no need to have holidays during the days elections are being held; people can go and vote anytime during the day. During the flawed referendum that Musharraf held in 2002, I voted during the lunch break, as it was a working day.
Other posts by Shakir Lakhani
- If Pakistan goes to war with United States of America - October 9th, 2008
- Killing of Christians in Secular India - October 1st, 2008
- Pakistan Muslims: so-called guardians of Islam - September 30th, 2008
- Mr. Zardari's offer to "hug" Ms Palin - September 26th, 2008
- Corruption decreases slightly in Pakistan - September 24th, 2008
- Rehman Malik should think before he talks - September 23rd, 2008
- Saudi cleric's fatwa to kill satellite TV station owners - September 19th, 2008
- How they treat cheaters in Egypt! - September 10th, 2008
- Is Zardari mentally fit to be President? - August 27th, 2008
- Why is Zardari against re-instatement of the Chief Justice? - August 21st, 2008
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January 10th, 2008 01:36 GMT
Interesting notion. However, if you study democracies such as India or the United States and the traditional role of the opposition, it is not the absence of rigging that brings stability and faith in the democratic process. Rigging happens everywhere, even in India. Its part and parcel of Politics.
What sustains democracy and gives everyone the semblance of a “saaf and shafaf election” is the acknowledgement of the result. It is done in the better interest of the nation and for the sustainability of democracy. It is not one or two rigged elections that cause damage to a country, but it is the uncertainty that cause the most damage.
For example, we all know that the Bush’s brother rigged the elections in Florida. Remember those ballot boxes that got stolen, the whole car chase, and then they were found in a swamp?
If Al Gore asked for a judicial inquiry he could have had a victory. But he didn’t. He chose the better interest of the United States over his personal or party interests. If he did ask for an inquiry, it would have created uncertainty, mistrust, finger pointing and a nation divided.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is that true leaders think beyond themselves, and always keep the nation first in their priorities. They have the vision to think a few steps ahead and serve the larger interest. That, my friend, is leadership. That is why even when elections are rigged, they are never rigged.
January 23rd, 2008 14:04 GMT
Rigging in indian elections have marginalized only for the last 10 yrs or so … before that heavy bogus voting and result tempering have taken place in the election …. but yes u dont often see leaders pointing fingers on election commission … its not due to they put national interest above themselves … but they fear EC a lot after all EC is big daddy of all those national parties when it comes to election. There were many cases when opposition have lounged protest against not so fair election and they won their cases in courts and re-election.
But i am happy to say that now elections are being conducted in highly fair and neat manner. Even in the so called most lawless state “bihar” recent election held in very fair way despite being threaten by some nexus in some remote areas … thats a good sign for rising democracy.