Elections should be truthful, free, and bereft of intimidation, says SEC
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Enforcing unanimous elections in panchayats is nothing however an try and stifle the voice of the Backward Classes and have an effect on the spirit of social justice, State Election Commissioner N. Ramesh Kumar has stated.
Addressing the media after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi on his loss of life anniversary right here on Saturday, Mr. Ramesh Kumar stated the share of unanimous elections had come down to twenty in 2013 from 30 earlier. “In the ensuing elections, the figure should come down further, signalling the victory of democracy,” he stated.
The powers that be had, of their “last attempt,” tried to cease the election course of by submitting over 10 writ petitions within the High Court, he stated. It was a “happy moment” for him because the courtroom stood by the Constitution and the State Election Commission by ruling that “no power can stop the elections”. He stated the Advocate-General was additionally among the many petitioners.
‘Constitution is supreme’
Stating that he was the “prime witness” in a number of CBI instances, Mr. Ramesh Kumar stated, “I get pleasure from safety below the Witness Protection Act. It is my nature to be daring, true and discharge my duties in accordance with the Constitution. I shall proceed to do that.
“Elections should be guided by the spirit of truth, which has its roots in the Constitution that envisages the vision of B.R. Ambedkar. The ruling of the Supreme Court becomes the law of the land. It is the bounden duty of all to follow the Constitution and the systems guided by it and the law of the land. When the apex court said the Election Commission was correct, the attempts to discourage and demoralise the election process are unconstitutional and ridiculous,” Mr. Ramesh Kumar stated.
“When ‘unanimous election’ is a far cry in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, why should it be enforced in the panchayat elections?” he requested.
Free and truthful elections, away from intimidation, would give ample scope to the downtrodden sections, make them an element of the governance and realise their social accountability, he noticed.
Shadow events
“The forces that pitch for unanimous election will be grounded. Shadow parties will be after those who go hunting for the candidates filing their nominations. In order to facilitate wider participation of candidates, the norm of producing BC certificate has been done away with,” Mr. Ramesh Kumar stated.
Earlier, Mr. Ramesh Kumar worshipped on the temple of Lord Rama at Vontimitta, close to Kadapa, and showered reward on the district administration for the developmental works taken up on the temple.
District Collector C. Hari Kiran, Additional DGP N. Sanjay, and senior officers accompanied Mr. Ramesh Kumar and took half within the evaluate assembly.
