Will the EC act?

The Election Commission of India is a prisoner of circumstances. While it must be seen to be fair in offering a level playing field in all elections, the commission has also to cope with the reality of India, which is to do with corruption. The peculiar case of allegations of large-scale corruption in the Rajya Sabha elections throws up very knotty questions because the EC, with residuary constitutional powers in the conduct of indirect elections in which representatives of the people vote for persons to become members of the Upper House, must decide what to do in a situation involving horse-trading. 

While the EC has asked for details of the sting operations run by some television channels on Karnataka legislators, who are preparing to vote on June 11, the question arises as to what exactly the EC can do in this regard, apart from revoking the polls now and rescheduling. The allegations against legislators may be a subject of police investigation and the EC can be expected to pass on such information and ask the authorities to act. But what happens when legislators are seduced to vote for ruling party nominees on the offer of several crores of rupees in development funds for the constituencies of the MLAs of Opposition parties?

It takes no great stretch of imagination to conclude that such sweet deals would also mean the legislators have something to gain personally, but they cannot be held guilty of direct graft. If the election in Karnataka proceeds as schedule, there is every fear it will be rigged. There is also the question of how effective the EC is when it comes to tackling corruption.