Read:  Mammoth task of Election Commission

 

The general election in India, the world’s largest democracy, will take place in nine phases between April 7 and May 12. The general election is a celebration of democracy, no doubt, but it is also a huge challenge for the Election Commission, which is responsible for the smooth operation of the general election. Conducting general election in a country with over 800 million eligible voters is a nightmare and proper planning has to be carried out to ensure that there are no security breaches and that people vote in a safe and secure environment.

 

Security is a huge challenge for the Election Commission, especially in areas that have a significant presence of Maoist rebels. In the previous elections, Maoist rebels have opposed the elections and tried to sabotage them as well, and it will not come as a surprise if they try to do it this time around. Therefore, the Election Commission is making a list of groups that may oppose the elections and it is coming up with elaborate plans to handle them while maintaining peace in the region. 

 

The Election Commission, apart from overseeing the general election, is tasked with keeping an eye on speeches made in the country that could disturb the peace and weaken the social fabric of the Indian society. In addition, it is required to monitor the expenditure of the various parties in India and maintain religious harmony in every state. 

 

This year, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) will also be able to cast their votes in view of the amendment of The Representation of the People Bill in 2010. Close to 12,000 NRIs have registered as voters and they will be exercising their voting rights for the very first time. With the advancement of technology, Indians living miles away from their homeland are able to stay up to date with the current affairs and developments in the Indian political scene. 

 

With news spreading like wild fire on social networking sites and other new media platforms, people have begun to take an interest in affairs of the nation. As such, they are involved in political and economic issues like never before. This is not just applicable to NRIs but also to people living in India.

 

This is the first time in India’s history that people are showing enthusiasm and interest in the polls. As such, with greater participation from Indians at home and abroad, the Election Commission is expected to be more vigilant of the conduct of the people on the voting day and ensure that people abide by the rules as stated in the Constitution. 

 

New parties have emerged on the political front in India and they are all fighting for diverse issues. The Congress, which has been in power for the last 10 years, is fighting to defend its political record and to protect the secular fabric of the nation. 

 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is fighting for a change in the centre and is trying to convince the people of India that it can do a better job than the Congress. Regional parties are on the rise and a new party that has joined the bandwagon is the Aam Aadmi Party, which claims to represent the common man and is keen to address the problems of the common man.

 

With so many parties fighting for attention and votes, it is inevitable that there will be clashes between the parties and the people. So, the Election Commission has to ensure that the parties adhere to the Constitution and the rules it has put forth with regard to rallies.

 

Mr . Veeravalli Sundaram Sampath CEC (Chief Election Commissioner of India)   has a huge task at hand and with more parties joining the political scene and more voters in the picture, its job essentially gets harder.

 

Maintaining peace in the region is crucial and it is difficult to predict when chaos will erupt. So, the Election Commission has to take proactive measures to ensure that the general election conforms to the Indian Constitution and proceeds in a smooth manner.