NEW DELHI: The credibility of the Chief Election Commissioner, T.N. Seshan, as an impartial reformer of the electoral process appears to have been seriously eroded because of his “pronounced bias” in favor of the BJP and against political parties and individuals with whom had differences. Seshan’s selective use of powers has come under scathing attack from the Left parties, Janata Dal, Telugu Desam as well as civil rights activists who accuse him of painting an exaggerated picture of lawlessness in Bihar, while winking at the “crude communal propaganda” by pro-BJP fundamentalist groups in Gujarat.
The leaders and activists point out that the CEC has not even reacted-let alone act to the documented evidence of communal propaganda by VHP leaders sent to him by his own officer in Gujarat. At the same time, he has painstakingly built a case against the Laloo Prasad Yadav government in Bihar, as though he was fighting a “private battle.”
Proved by the CEC’s “partition attitude, a delegation of CPI(M), CPI and Janata Dal leaders met the President, Shankar Dayal Sharma, earlier. Later, the CPI leader, M. Farooqi, said that Seshan was in league with the BJP,” it was futile to expect impartiality from him and, therefore, they had approached the President.
The CPI(M) politburo member, S.R.Pilai, said that “every demand of the BJP is acceded to by the CEC but he never acts on a single complaint against them,” even when well-documented evidence conclusively proves that the Sangh Parivar has been vitiating the poll atmosphere with communal propaganda.
The Janata Dal leader, Jaipal Reddy, said:”We as a party never expected Seshan to take serious note of any substantive complaint against the BJP. VHP combine. He is seen to be pro BJP and it is up to him to explain why this perception has gained ground. Why does he treat the BJP with kid gloves?”
Asked whether Seshan’s “favoritism” was limited to the BJP, these leaders said at times it extended to the Congress(1). As Farooqi said, “Seshan alternatively helps the BJP and the Congress(1) and, in the process, helps himself.”
Civil rights activists, too, feel that the CEC is showing an “unhealthy bias” which erodes the credibility of the institution he represents. The VHP campaign in Gujarat was a bad case of communal incitement and we must criticize the lack of decisive action on the part of the EC,” said Prof Amrik Singh, vice president of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL).
Article extracted from this publication >> March 10, 1995
