By Aires Rodrigues
Unless elections are free and fair they would be an exercise in futility. The election machinery has to be autonomous and free from the political clutches. Election officials should not be at the mercy of being transferred around by the government in power. Currently these officials being under the administrative control of the ruling politicians which leaves room for pliable officers to be posted especially around election time.
Politicians should not be able to manipulate and dictate terms to the officials whose mandate is to ensure free and fair polls. In the recent Alina induction episode we were witness to the unnecessary targeting of the Chief Electoral Officer Mr. S. Kumaraswamy by Chief Minister Mr. Manohar Parrikar. Mr. Kumaraswamy was just doing his job and the Chief Minister should not have attempted to trespass into his domain. The very dignified manner in which the Mr. S. Kumaraswamy firmly stood his ground was commendable. It should be an example for all bureaucrats some of whom are ready to bend when they are not supposed to even bow to the illegal and unlawful orders of the government in power.
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