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Time is now ripe for the Election Commission (EC) to prevent political parties from making false campaign promises as the Supreme Court (SC) has given it four-weeks time to decide on the steps to be taken against parties which indulge in irrational promises. Clearly, absurd and unrealistic promises are enough to create disenchantment among the electorate as since Independence most promises made by political parties remains unfulfilled. While poverty, unemployment, lack of civic amenities, corruption, etc. are continuing to hurt the citizens immensely even after seven and a half decades of freedom, political parties have made it a practice to assure the people of solving all problems after coming to power as though they have a magic wand in their hands. As a matter of fact, over the years political parties have tried to woo the electorate by promising the moon, rather than focusing on ideology or good governance. Political parties may think of it as the easiest way to garner support, but such unethical practices are detrimental to democracy as it undermines the accountability factor completely.
The degree to which the disease is weakening India’s electoral system can be judged from the promises made by political parties in their election manifestos in the five states where Assembly elections are now being held. From jobs to monetary benefits, loan waivers, free petrol and even changing traffic laws to allow two persons instead of one for pillion ride, all such promises have found place in the manifestoes of the contesting parties, though everyone knows that the promises made by political parties are hard to keep. When unemployment has touched a record high in the country, no state can provide complete employment to unemployed youths. Similarly, monetary help is also an absurd promise as the government does not have enough resources. The political parties should not be allowed to win over farmers by promising to waive farm loans as it hampers the country’s economic progress. Hence, political parties should be restricted from luring voters through false promises which in practice may affect the progress of the country.
The SC has provided the much needed opportunity to the EC to remove the menace from its root. Whilst political parties should also realise that lofty promises will not help them in the long run, the EC should be bold while filing its reply to the petition which has sought either freezing of the symbols or deregistering of a party indulging in false promises. EC should keep in mind that if the practice is allowed to continue, the electorate may lose faith in the system sooner than later. To prevent the erosion of the country’s democratic set up, EC should take appropriate steps so that poll promises are kept instead of being used as a tool to hoodwink the electorate. The ball is in the EC’s court.