BKU submits Petition to CEO Punjab, demanding making Election Manifesto of Political Parties as Legally Binding
Author(s): City Air Newsphoto: city air news Chandigarh: October 5, 2016: A large number of office bearers of BKU led by S.Bhupinder Singh Mann, Ex MP, National President BKU and S.Baldev Singh Mianpur submitted a petition to Sh VK Singh,...
Chandigarh: October 5, 2016: A large number of office bearers of BKU led by S.Bhupinder Singh Mann, Ex MP, National President BKU and S.Baldev Singh Mianpur submitted a petition to Sh VK Singh, IAS, Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab.
CEO very gracefully came down from his office and received the petition from hundreds of office bearers of BKU in the corridors of Sector 17. He listened to the contents of the Petition and assured that he will definitely take necessary action in the matter as this was the need of the hour.
BKU requested CEO to ensure that the Manifesto of all the parties for the ensuing 2017 elections conform to the Model Code of Conduct while BKU further demands that the Election Manifesto should be made legally binding on the political parties for ensuring a fair democracy as envisioned by our forefathers while writing down the Constitution.
The Model code of conduct clearly lays down:
(ii) ……………….However, political parties should avoid making those promises which are likely to vitiate the purity of the election process or exert undue influence on the voters in exercising their franchise.
(iii) In the interest of transparency, level playing field and credibility of promises, it is expected that manifestos also reflect the rationale for the promises and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it. Trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled.
BKU further requested the CEO to kindly ensure that the elections are held in a fair, free and just manner. In saying so, BKU is of firm opinion that EC is not just mandated to stop physical booth capturing, physical distribution of money, physical distribution of liquor (direct corruption). ECI is also expected to stop the political parties from “physiological booth capturing” through false, hoax and promises meant for cheating, as they are highly illegal, corrupt and a dangerous onslaught on our democracy.
Detailed Petition
The Chief Electoral Officer,
SCO 29-30, Sector 17-E,
Chandigarh- 160017
Sub: Petition from Bharti Kisan Union to Election Commission of India through your office demanding to ensure that Political Parties adhere to the Guidelines laid down for Election Manifesto in the Model Code of Conduct and requesting ECI to safeguard the interests of Voters and Citizens against false promises made in Election Manifesto
Dear Sir,
Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) is an organisation and a social forum engaged in struggling for the socio-economic cause of farmers since 1967. We, as part of Punjab civil society, always strive for a better Society where the Rights of all Citizens, given by the Constitution of India, are upheld and Democratic processes are adhered to.
We understand that the Election Commission is custodian to safeguard interests and rights of citizens-voters in conducting free and fair elections.
Of late, the Political parties have started adopting all means, fair or otherwise, to capture the power. One of such manoeuvring done by the Political Parties is to make tall promises in their party Manifestos before the Elections with a view to lure the Citizens to vote for them. During election campaigns, false promises are made and which are never honoured by them after coming to power. The political parties issue false and misleading advertisements to woo the voters to vote for them. It is desirable that it should be mandatory for the Political Parties to submit a legally binding manifesto so that they cannot fool the Citizens.
BKU feels that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has most important duty of conducting the elections in a fair and free manner as laid down in the Constitution of India. The responsibility of ECI is paramount in the Democracy, as also safeguarding civil interests of people so that they are not cheated by any means, allurements, coercions, money and above all false promises by political parties. Political parties may make tall promises but they should be bound to give time frame break up and financial resource to meet those programs. Failing time bound implementation, they should be declared as rogue party, unfit in democratic process.
We are attaching the manifesto of various Political parties from year 2002 onwards. The recent one is the Manifesto of BJP issued in 2014 where in it was promised to implement the recommendations of Swaminathan report. But immediately on coming to power, the BJP Government gave an affidavit to Supreme Court totally contrary to its election promise.
2002-2007 Congress (Punjab Vidhan Sabha)
2007-2012 SAD (Punjab Vidhan Sabha)
2012-2017 SAD (Punjab Vidhan Sabha)
2014-2019 BJP (Parliament)
2017-2022 AAP (Punjab Vidhan Sabha)
From perusal of the above manifestos, it will be clear that most of the promises are either unfulfilled or Political Parties have taken stand contrary to their promises. It tantamounts to blatant breach of trust with the Citizens.
The Model Code of Conduct governing the Election Manifesto is reproduced below:-
The Constitution under Article 324 mandates the Election Commission, to conduct elections inter alia to the Parliament and the State Legislatures. Having due regard to the directions of the Supreme Court and after consultation with the Political Parties, the Commission, in the interest of free and fair elections , directed that Political Parties and Candidates while releasing election manifestos for any election to the Parliament or State Legislatures, shall adhere to the following guidelines :-
(i) The election manifesto shall not contain anything repugnant to the ideals and principles enshrined in the Constitution and further that it shall be consistent with the letter and spirit of other provisions of Model Code of Conduct.
(ii) The Directive Principles of State Policy enshrined in the Constitution enjoin upon the State to frame various welfare measures for the citizens and therefore there can be no objection to the promise of such welfare measures in election manifestos. However, political parties should avoid making those promises which are likely to vitiate the purity of the election process or exert undue influence on the voters in exercising their franchise.
(iii) In the interest of transparency, level playing field and credibility of promises, it is expected that manifestos also reflect the rationale for the promises and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it. Trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled.
The above Guidelines have been formed as per directives of Supreme Court and in consultation with the Political Parties. It is clear that it is now the responsibility of the ECI to ensure that Political Parties adhere to these guidelines. For the purpose of more clarity, the extracts relevant to this petition are reproduced below:-
(ii) ……………….However, political parties should avoid making those promises which are likely to vitiate the purity of the election process or exert undue influence on the voters in exercising their franchise.
(iii) In the interest of transparency, level playing field and credibility of promises, it is expected that manifestos also reflect the rationale for the promises and broadly indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it. Trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled.
Sir, we do not object to the promises of political parties, let them make as big promise as they want, but they should also “indicate the ways and means to meet the financial requirements for it” so that promises are crystal clear. Furthermore, and most important, is that the political party must spell out the rationale, blueprint, ways to finance the promises and time frame for implementation of any such promise made therein. Political parties should be made legally responsible on the promises and if promises are broken, then their Government should be dismissed and debarred from contesting elections in future.
We request to you kindly ensure that the elections are held in a fair, free and just manner. In saying so, we are of firm opinion that EC is not just mandated to stop physical booth capturing, physical distribution of money, physical distribution of liquor (direct corruption). ECI is also expected to stop the political parties from “physiological booth capturing” through false, hoax and promises meant for cheating, as they are highly illegal, corrupt and a dangerous onslaught on our democracy.
We request you to kindly ensure that the Manifesto of all the parties for the ensuing 2017 elections conform to the Model Code of Conduct while we re-iterate our demand that the Election Manifesto should be made legally binding on the political parties for ensuring a fair democracy as envisioned by our forefathers while writing down the Constitution.
[Office Bearers of BKU]
CC:
Chief Election Commissioner,
New Delhi