In a sharp critique of the State Election Commission (SEC), Baramati MP Supriya Sule on Tuesday raised serious doubts about its ability to manage larger electoral processes, questioning how it could ensure the proposed 'One Nation, One Election' model. The Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader made these remarks against the backdrop of alleged mismanagement during the first phase of local body elections in Maharashtra.
Call for Cancellation and JPC Intervention
Supriya Sule, who is also a member of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) examining the 'one nation, one election' proposal, stated she would formally take up the SEC's functioning in the committee's next meeting. Her decision comes after the SEC rescheduled elections and result dates for some local bodies following court directives.
"Considering the incidents in the first phase, the entire election process should be cancelled," Sule asserted. She emphasized that the state had not witnessed such levels of mismanagement by the election authority before. The MP noted that the SEC's actions have drawn criticism not only from opposition parties but also from ruling alliance members and the Chief Minister.
Allegations of Money Power and Code Violations
The opposition has leveled serious allegations of the use of money power by Mahayuti coalition members during the initial phase of polling. Sule connected this to the central government's past demonetization drive, intended to curb black money. "The Prime announced 'notebandi' to curb the use of black money. However, during the entire election process, unaccounted cash was found," she said, adding that such brazen use of financial muscle defeats the very purpose of democratic elections.
Echoing similar concerns, Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal, who was in Pune on Tuesday, termed the civic polls a "drama" and accused the SEC of acting as a "puppet" of the state government. He highlighted last-minute changes, pointing out that the SEC postponed voting in some civic bodies merely 40 hours before the process was to begin and rescheduled counting just 30 hours prior.
A Blow to Democratic Process
Sapkal condemned the alleged brazen violations of the model code of conduct by Mahayuti members across the state, claiming they were taking pride in such actions. He stressed that the failure of the election process represents a loss not just for any single party but for the entire democratic framework of the nation.
The criticism from prominent political figures underscores growing concerns about the conduct and independence of the State Election Commission. With Parliament in session and the JPC deliberating on a synchronized national election model, the events in Maharashtra have ignited a fresh debate on the institutional capacity required for such a monumental task.
