Tiring. A simple but apt term that describes the over sixty-day grind, that leaves an entire nation panting for breath. All the thrills of a throbbing democratic exercise that involved a billion people were present in great abundance throughout, but at the end of it all, the overwhelming thought is: Thank God, it’s over! Not just the populace who have decided their own fate as also that of politicos, but the politicos themselves, would deem the relief, albeit brief, most welcome. Of course, it is not yet over for the EC till the smooth transport of EVMs and the counting itself are done with.
It is the people who will celebrate the most the ceasure of this cacophony that had clogged their ears, nay their senses, for weeks on. Though the policies, postures and the past record of all prime parties and their leaders are quite well known, from the start, campaigns are deemed essential. And rightly so. In every election, besides the vote bank, there are always fence sitters who could be swayed either way. And this election also saw an unprecedented accretion to the voter list, a voting crowd that was supposed to be greenhorns awaiting enlightenment and guidance. The feverish pitch was primarily targetted at them happened to fall on other ears deafened by the same rhetoric over years. Also, the past ten years of UPA have been so noisily scandalous that the election campaign only accentuated the din.
A grudging sympathy is due to the politicos too. Yes, most have let us down and many have looted us. But this long drawn election campaign surely has sucked the last ounce of energy out of them. In many ways, this is a make or break election and holds in its electronic depths the secret map to India’s future course. And since politicos personify this potential changes and are the instruments through which the future will be played out, once the voter has done his job, they had gone all out. The cross country campaigns of some of the national leaders and the intense State tours of local leaders, replete with road shows, rallies, et al makes for a mind-boggling personal effort on the part of many.
Worse is the necessity of having to repeat themselves and also watch their words every minute. A sensation hungry media was always on the lookout for the fatal slip of the tongue to let loose all hell often momentarily, only to be eclipsed by the next slip by another somebody. Politicos campaigning in different parts of the country have to say the same message in each place probably with some local flavour, but the extensive media coverage made many such speeches redundant. Trapping fatigued politicos too turned a tiring trick what with wary viewers well aware of the TRP triumphalism that would follow. Suffice to say that the gruelling polls truly broke the back of the breaking news brigade.
The officials of the EC deserve all kudos for the largely peaceful polling all over the country. Incidents of violence or booth level malpractices were minimum. No doubt there are allegations of bias and laxity levelled by many parties but these cannot take away credit from the massive administrative process that has been completed to near perfection, considering the challenges. That the EC has been able to make our elephantine bureaucracy to move and deliver this much is itself a major achievement. Voter awareness and mobilisation of new voters are other feathers.
That said, the EC could have made things easier on some counts and failed on a few other. The protracted election schedule was unwarranted, despite all the explanations. A clear 10 to 12-day reduction was possible and could have made life better for the EC itself, not to mention the nation. As technology improves and voters become more conscious of their duty, even a less than three week poll-schedule could be achieved in all efficiency in future. The major failure has been in an area that the country is most concerned: The play of money. This election may have seen more seizures, with AP topping, but that probably is an indicator of the cash that sailed above the radar of the EC. Curbs and checks on poll expenditure have been frustrated by some nuanced and novel sleights of greased hand by our wily politicos across parties. That still makes it a ‘free and fair’ fight among major players though the playing field remains queered for new aspirants.
It is probably like Chennai’s unexpected respite from the feared Agni Nakshathiram, which can rear its blazing hot head anytime.
But it is a respite all the same!
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