The Hindu Business Line : Election hypocrisy in largest democracy

ALL candidates are seen going round their constituencies their palms joined together — the picture of humility and meekness. But judged by the behaviour of the parties and the governments run by them before, this can only be a put-on.

If the nation's well-being were uppermost in their minds, would parties put up so many candidates with police cases pending against them? Ironically, the so-called "world's largest democracy" flouts all canons of democracy and makes law-makers of law-breakers.

All public-spirited citizens will be aghast at the withdrawal of cases against Mr N. Balaganga, candidate for Central Chennai Constituency, charged with such offences as rioting with deadly weapons, causing grievous hurt to obstruct public servants from discharging their duties and indulging in the destruction of public property.

Regrettably, since discerning voters are apathetic and stay away, these pernicious trends continue unchecked.

Many candidates of almost all parties have declared vast moveable and immoveable assets.

While possession of assets proportionate to their earning capacity by professionals such as lawyers, doctors and established business persons, or those coming from wealthy backgrounds, is understandable, what is one to make of the huge amounts of cash and immoveable properties of persons whose only vocation is politics and who apparently have no other ostensible means of livelihood?

It is to be hoped that the Income-Tax Department will make sure that all the disclosed assets of the candidates have been duly accounted for.

Meanwhile, permissiveness seems to have infected officials as well. Three officers deputed as election observers to a Tamil Nadu district reportedly behaved in an unseemly fashion demanding undue favours and facilities.

Should senior officials sent for checking the misconduct of others be setting such an obnoxious example?

They have since been replaced, but this is not enough. The EC should have them suspended and have disciplinary proceedings drawn up against them for the award of a major penalty.

B. S. Raghavan