Special privileges to MLAs, MPs should go: Gill

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 12. Looking back at his innings at Nirvachan Sadan where he presided over as the country's Chief Election Commissioner for an eventful tenure of five years, Dr. M.S. Gill said today that he always tried to run the affairs of the three- member poll panel ``harmoniously and unanimously''.

Addressing a hurriedly-convened press conference in his office which looked more like a thanksgiving occasion as he retires tomorrow, Dr. Gill insisted that the commission had always been united. ``It is my firm belief that it will continue very much so.''

``There are difficulties in the smooth functioning of any multi- member body in the country but we tried to perform our Constitutional duties in a correct manner. Individuals pass on but institutions remain and we need to strengthen the systems and institutions,'' he said.

Dr. Gill's colleague of three years in the commission, Mr. J. M. Lyngdoh, will take over as the CEC tomorrow. Another new face, Mr. B.B. Tandon, till now Secretary (Personnel), will also join the panel as Election Commissioner to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Lyngdoh's elevation. Mr. T.S. Krishnamurthy had taken the place of Mr. G.V.G. Krishnamurthy who retired as Election Commissioner earlier.

Under Dr. Gill's stewardship, the commission laid stress on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and made it mandatory for voters to identify themselves either by the voter's identity card or any other authorised document.

``Both the steps of machine and card proved to be great success and they have also got the stamp of approval by the Supreme Court,'' Dr. Gill said.

Admitting that giving correct identity cards to an electorate as big as 62 crores was a ``complex and difficult'' process, Dr. Gill said it was an ongoing process.

Referring to the steps taken by the commission to check the entry of criminals and convicted persons in the electoral arena, he felt that Clause IV of Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act needed to be simplified and made easy as it bestowed special privilege upon MLAs and MPs.

He declined to make any comment on the swearing-in of Ms. Jayalalithaa as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, though she was barred from contesting the recent Assembly elections.

He said the commission tried to implement Section 8 of the RPA in 1997 after a ``deep study'' in a bid to bar convicted persons from contesting polls. He said the provision needed to be simplified to check effectively criminalisation of politics. ``The Commission does not make laws, it only applies them.''

The dialogue with political parties had proved to be ``very useful''. Close interaction with the political parties was ``essential to run a good electoral democracy''. He endeavoured to strengthen India's electoral democracy and to run it in a stable, neutral manner. Had he ``made up'' with the firebrand Trinamool Congress leader, Ms. Mamata Banerjee, after she hurled allegations of malpractice in the May Assembly polls in West Bengal in which her party failed to emerge victorious?'' he was asked.

``I have no problems with her. When a person or party is going to the polls, the stress on them is extreme. In the process they throw some rocks at the Election Commission also. Since the CEC is the public face of the commission, there is more stress on the CEC. The commission should have stability and patience to take all this,'' he replied.

Dr. Gill should know it better as he was at the helm during the polls in 1996, 1998 and 1999 apart from overseeing Assembly polls in several States.

He was also able to build consensus among the political parties on the implementation of the Model Code of Conduct and managed to steer the commission out of litigation pending for a long time in the Supreme Court. The commission now exercises full disciplinary powers during the vital poll period over the poll staff, including police and civil officials.

But Dr. Gill's dream proposal remains - a neutral government in place during the election period. ``The Government has not yet accepted this proposal but I am hopeful that it will be through some day or the other.''

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