The most recent judgment of a seven-Judge Bench of Supreme Court on January 2 has prohibited parties seeking votes in the name of caste, race, language and religion because election is a democratic secular exercise. This has been appreciated by many political parties and religious organizations of the country.
In the context, the State Election Commission has notified for holding panchayat elections for more than one lakh seats that includes Sarapanch, ward member, samiti member and member Zilla Parishad. The franchise would be exercised by 2.5 core voters of the State. The model code of conduct declared by the election commission for political parties and candidates remain in force till counting is over.
It is said in the model code of conduct that no political party or candidate shall use any words either spoken or written on the ground of religion, sex, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community which shall create disharmony or feeling of enmity between different communities. There shall not be any obstruction or intimidation to any prospective candidate for filling his nomination. The candidate and party leaders shall not engage in character assassination and criticism of private life of any candidate which will lead to ill feeling and social tension in the society. The voters shall not be persuaded to vote for any particular candidate and there shall not be any obstruction which will prevent the voters from exercising their free choice. It is also instructed in model code of conduct that no liquor or intoxicants shall be served by any political party or candidates to their supporters or workers on the polling date to avoid violence and social tension.
The corrupt practice by political parties in form of gratification, bribery, undue influence over voters is an offence and liable for penalties under the provision of law. The party in power and persons holding public office shall not use their official position for election campaign in fever of their party candidate. Any kind of threats to any voter or social ostracism or expulsion from community shall not be allowed during election.
In spite of constitutional provisions, laws, court orders and model code of conduct, it is a fact that the whole enforcement depends on the attitude of Government, ruling party, officials managing the election, and the level of active political involvement of the conscious voter. The political awareness of the voters as a responsible citizen of the country is most important factor and it is the duty of the political parties of the country to politically educate the voters about their duty and responsibilities in the larger interest of the democracy and governance.
In the context of Odisha, the Panchayat election is a mass political process involving more than one lakh posts and in an average if there are minimum five contestants for each post then there will be five lakh people who will be directly involved in the election process. Of about 2.5 lakh voters, a majority of them are illiterate and not well informed about the constitutional process. The voters are not homogenous and belong to diverse social and religious identities and political affiliations. The social reality of rural Odisha is still predominantly feudal and patriarchal, while caste and ethnic status and religion have an influence over a vast majority of the illiterate population. The very habitations are caste and community based where social relations and political affiliations are linked to caste, faith and community identities. The dominant caste and communities have been controlling the social, religious, cultural, economic and political power in the village and for historical reasons, the political democratisation process has not changed much the age old social and economic structure of the village. The only political right that people have been enjoying is the right to vote under universal adult franchise. The social status of Dalits, Adivasis and backward classes and women and religious and linguistic minorities has not changed to the desired extent to place their political position in equal footing at par with dominant communities in the decision making process of the village. The families having land, education, employment, access to governance with political affiliations are enjoying relatively more power than others, especially the marginalised sections.
The candidates from dominant caste or backed by dominant caste are well protected while the candidates from marginalized communities and backed by marginalized communities are more vulnerable in the existing power structure and social relationship. The most vulnerable candidates are women of the marginalized communities who are almost defenceless and without support of the family and influential people it is almost impossible for her to context the election. The candidates for reserved seats are not decided by the marginalized sections; rather the dominant communities and male members are taking decision and selecting candidates for election. It is found by study that a large number of elected women leaders were proved as proxy leaders and mostly they were managed by their male members in family. It is reported that minutes of Pallisabha and Gramsabha are changed as per wish of the local leaders to favour the people of their own choice violating the guideline of the schemes and programmes. It happens in connivance with the Government officials and direct involvement of the ruling party leaders.
There has been movement of women against liquor for a long time but it is fact that the State Government has increased liquor shops in every Panchayat. The voters of marginalised communities are being bribed and offered liquor to vote due to their poor economic status and illiteracy. The free flow of liquor has been a major source of violence during elections and mostly women, children and marginalized communities suffer a lot in such situations. The normal life of the poor people is disturbed during election times due to tension and violence.
The rural village social condition has not changed much as untouchability, caste-based discrimination and atrocities continue unabated in spite of laws and protective mechanism and the marginalised sections continue to live in segregation and isolation without a dignified stake in the social and cultural and economic life of the village. The vulnerable groups in village such as the landless poor families, sharecroppers, Dalits and Adivasis are prone to violence. They are threatened by dominant groups and communities during election to vote in favor of a particular candidate but in spite of protective laws the people are not protected enough to get free to cast their vote to the candidate of their choice because after election they have to continue their stay in the same village and it is very difficult to challenge the dominant influential people and communities. The marginalized sections are largely economically dependent on the dominant caste people of the village and a majority of them are sharecroppers and agricultural labours who are engaged in the land of upper caste for livelihood. The panchayat , block , tehasil and police stations are mostly controlled by the dominant caste people.
While more power and resources are being planned to hand over to the panchyatiraj institutions, it is equally important to democratize such institutions with free and inclusive participation of people from all social groups without fear and exclusion. Panchayat elections must be a democratic secular exercise to make space for participation of marginalized sections.
(*manasbbsr15@gmail.com)