Hats off to the former election commissioners of India T. N. Seshan and B. B. Lyngdoh

Hats off to the former election commissioners of India T. N. Seshan and B. B. Lyngdoh who’d been immensely instrumental in devising deterrents to discourage overspending during elections, limiting election expenses, declaration of wealth and property mandatory for contesting candidates and many other steps that led to peaceful and comparatively less expensive elections with Goondagardi and Shorsharaba almost negligible with no pomp and show.

Now take the case of Delhi elections scheduled for 8th February. There is hardly three week’s time left and entire Delhi is peaceful with no posters, extremely limited hoardings and no three-wheelers with loudspeakers doing the rounds of Delhi streets.

Every candidate and political parties are under the observation of the election commission compelling them to exercise constraints/restraints in their over spendings and vulgar ostentatious publicity. About two decades ago during elections, anti-social elements and criminals were openly hired who used to influence voters by their open muscle power and tactics leading to several murders and vitiating the otherwise peaceful environment of the society. But now it seems to be missing to a great extent though there are still hired goons clandestinely playing their assigned role, the numbers have definitely been reduced.

However, social media and news channels and print media are today the most important via media to influence voters through individual views, news items, and advertisements. Such peaceful elections under the direct command and vigilant eye of election commission due to the revolutionary innovative efforts of former Chief Election Commissioners T. N. Seshan and B B Lyngdoh had in fact played an extremely vital role in making elections less expensive compared to earlier elections and giving electorates a peace of mind from Goondagardi, Posterbaazi and noise pollution. We extend our sincere gratitude to them, though Seshan Sir is unfortunately no more. The electorates now are least influenced by excessive poster branding and the noise of loudspeakers as used to be the case earlier.

Even university and colleges all over the country which had become dens of Goondaism and use of excessive money and muscle power with their academic environment almost being vitiated politically, during the elections have after the B. B. Lyndon committee report witnessed tremendous electoral reforms with Goondaism, excessive money, and muscle power having been reduced to a great extent. However, despite all this, there is still no denying the fact that anti-social elements, criminals still do play their assigned roles during elections for various political parties but clandestinely with comparatively reduced numbers. The rich and major political parties still allegedly spend lots of money in underhand deals to please and influence the voters in bulk through illegal liquor supplies and hard cash delivery but police under the guidance and instructions of the vigilant election commission try to do their best to counter these illegal acts and had proved to be successful to a great extent to minimize them as compared to earlier illegal practices of political parties earlier. The enlightened electorates of the country can play their significant role in helping the election commission by exposing the corrupt practices of political parties and the candidates to influence voters through unfair means proving themselves as the law-abiding citizens of the country.