Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Tuesday called for increasing the voter turnout to at least 75 per cent in the next Lok Sabha elections while Union Minister for Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju said "elements" trying to discredit the Election Commission (EC) were actually trying to discredit the democratic process of the country. The minister also said the courts have a right to make observations on the Commission but the judges will also have to think about the language being used.
In his message at an event on the occasion of the 12th National Voters Day, Naidu said as a nation we must think and arrive at a consensus to have simultaneous elections to all the three tiers of federal set up and move towards better governance by focusing on all-round development of our people. Naidu was the chief guest at the event but could not attend the function as he is in home isolation in Hyderabad after testing positive for COVID-19.
The event was also attended by Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra Pandey and representatives of recognised political parties, including Trinamool Congress, BSP, BJP, CPI, Congress and National People's Party.
Naidu's message was read out in Hindi and English. The vice president said the country has come a long way from the first general elections of 1952 when only 44.87 per cent of the eligible voters turned up to vote. In the last general elections in 2019, 67.40 per cent or more than two-third of the eligible voters exercised their franchise, he noted.
Rijiju said, people who want to challenge democracy have found a way of doing so by challenging the poll panel. The minister said the way EC has handled challenges from time to time, there is little scope to criticise it. He, however, did not name the "elements" he was referring to. In a democracy, people are free to criticise the EC, but the criticism should be based on logic, he said, adding that the language used should be within civic norms.
"If the courts says on EC, it can. Courts have a right. But the judges will have to think about what language they are using. Under what circumstances EC is working has to be understood," he said.
Referring to the recent passage of a bill on electoral reforms, the minister said due to "ruckus" in the House he felt "handicapped" as he could not explain in detail the reforms being ushered in.
CEC Chandra said the Commission has made arrangements for holding “Covid-safe” elections in the five states going to Assembly polls. The Commission conferred national awards for the best electoral practices to officers for their outstanding performance in the conduct of elections in different spheres.