CHANDIGARH: The Chief Election Commissioner Mr. T.N Seshan last week said there was nothing right with the country’s election system which according to him was based on cash criminality and corruption Mr Seshan feared that India may head towards a situation akin to Bosnia and Somalia He was highly critical of the deterioration in the democratic system. The role of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) was that of an umpire who had no whistled opined Seshan.
He said that everything connected with elections was full of mistakes and added that these could not be rectified until the character of the country’s citizens became what it should be Seshan said that mere laws could not help in strengthening the election system since the first step that 4 legislator takes after getting elected is to sign a false declaration about the expenses incurred by him in polls. He said although he was the referee for the election in the country the rules for them were framed by Parliament over which he had no power. Seshan hinted that action will be taken against those members of Rajya Sabha (Parliament) who will furnish incorrect information regarding their residential addresses. Any misinformation regarding the residence of a Rajya Sabha member amounted to fraud and this was bound to call for penal action according to the Chief Election Commissioner The CEC warned political parties about his order pertaining to removal of graffiti by candidates during the Assembly polls to six States held in 1993 Failure to com. ply with the order will invite action Seshan said rigging and booth capturing were among the things wrong with the elections. Seshan claimed that he had predicted the death of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991. He said that he had told Rajiv Gandhi on May 101991 not to visit interior villages for a fortnight as there was a threat to his life. According to Seshan the former Prime Minister had said I shall die only once to which he replied a privilege not given specially to you. Seshan claimed that even Mani Shankar Aiyar had advised Gandhi not to visit Sriperumbudur where he was assassinated on May 21, 1991.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 28, 1994
