By Anjuman Ara Begum, TwoCircles.net,
Assam: National Election Watch (NEW), a nationwide campaign comprising of more than 1200 NGOs and other citizen led organizations, working on electoral reforms, improving democracy and governance in India have stepped up the pressure on political parties to demand accountability from them in the state of Assam as well.
It announced several initiatives with the purpose of bringing transparency and accountability in the political system on February 17, 2011 through a press conference organized in The Press Club of Guwahati.
Talking about the initiatives and the resolutions, Sadhana Dutta, a member of Assam Election Watch Group said, “details on these points and resolutions have emerged from consultations around the country including all the NE states. Most of these have been endorsed by the Election Commission. The political parties should listen to the peoples demand and make appropriate changes for their implementation”.
Barring candidates against whom criminal charges have been framed in a court, disqualifying the candidates who indulge in electoral malpractices, and striking off names of people with non bailable warrants from voter rolls include some of the specific demands of NEW partners.
Implementation of “None of the Above” – which would include providing a real option for people to vote “None of the Above” if people do not like any of the contesting candidates. If the “None of the Above” option gets maximum votes, it would mean that all the contesting candidates have been rejected by the voters. This would result in a re-election but the contesting candidates from the previous elections would not be allowed to contest.
Comprehensive bill to regulate political parties to make them more transparent and accountable – All leading democracies have such a Bill, we have none. In particular, the Income statements and sources of income should be mandatorily disclosed for all parties. The issues of inner party democracy in political parties, and greater transparency and regulation of political party funding is required.
Two comprehensive reports were too released for the voters of the state comprising of a comparative analysis and highlights of state assemblies going to polls in 2011 and Assam specific analysis of criminal and financial details of candidates and MLAs based on 2006 Assembly Election.
Candidates with criminal background
Since 2002, the major impact of these campaigns have been on criminalization of politics, and transparency in candidate and political party assets. Speaking about the criminalization of politics, Shayesta Parween, a member of the Group said, “As a result of the election watch campaigns across the country, the percentage of contesting candidates with criminal records has come down from over 20% to about 12% based on the data from recent elections. People want able and honest people to lead them and not those against whom criminal charges have been framed in a court.”
According to the watch group the 16 candidates who contested 2006 Assembly elections in the State with criminal records, seven went on to win the elections.
launch of National Election Watch website
Different civil society organizations, eminent citizens, media, senior bureaucrats and Police officials, came together to form the Assam Election Watch Group in the year 2009 to watch the Parliament Election in the state. It continued its endeavor and watched the Urban Local Body Election too in July 2009. The Assam Election Watch is all set now to watch the forthcoming Assembly Election in the State and make politicians accountable. It will also work for the voters’ awareness so that citizens could make an informed choice while casting their valuable vote.
ADR and the National Election Watch (NEW) have also launched an interactive website accessible as www.nationalelectionwatch.com. ADR and the National Election Watch has got data of over 50,000 candidates who have contested over last 7 years, based on the information filed by them in their affidavits. All this data are available on this website in an easy searchable form.