Polls, CCTVs and Truth

A very interesting thing that was noted a few days prior to the election and reported in the media was about how both the ruling NPF and opposition Congress reacted to the decision of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to select a few polling stations where webcasting through CCTV would take place. Initially the Congress in Mokokchung District complained that only its stronghold had been selected for such webcasting. A few days later, the NPF Dimapur Division likewise made a similar complain about selecting polling stations under Jharnapani, Medziphema and Ghaspani, describing it as its ‘stronghold’ and alleging that the party was being targeted in favour of the opposition. Not surprisingly the reaction of both the NPF and Congress is along similar lines. Now the question arises as to whether the political parties have any justification to complain about such webcasting, which has been introduced solely for the purpose of ensuring free and fair polls. Perhaps the way our parties are responding to the installation of CCTVs, it is quite clear that they will not be able to indulge in illegal practices as was done in the past. The decision to introduce webcasting in polling stations across the State is a step in the right direction. However since only a few polling stations have been selected this time, hopefully in future elections the use of technology will become the norm and not an exception.

Coming back to some of the measures taken by the ECI to ensure free and fair elections, including having micro-observers, video and still camera or webcasting, these are all welcome as it will help to make things transparent at Polling Stations. And in tune with the directives of the ECI, the CEO Nagaland was able to webcast live the proceedings of polling in 83 polling booths covering 11 districts HQs in Nagaland. As mentioned by the CEO media cell office, the entire recording done through web-casting would be closely monitored to keep check of illegal activities such as booth capturing, bogus voting and other mal-practices to ensure free and fair elections. While booth capturing or bogus voting is not a phenomenon witnessed only in Nagaland, the fact remains that this is quite rampant and widely prevalent in our Christian State. The ECI has now tried to identify those polling stations where such malpractices take place. In a recent circular for the coming Lok Sabha elections, the ECI has mentioned about how to identify “critical Polling Stations” and the measures to be taken to ensure free and fair elections. In this regard, the ECI has laid down the criteria for identification of critical Polling Stations.

Now whether the Congress or the NPF likes it or not, such identification is being done based on past trends of voting behavior and not whether a polling station is someone’s stronghold or not. The ECI has now decided that the “polling station wise election results available…with reference to the past general election shall be analyzed”. And “all such Polling Stations where percentage votes polled was more than 90% and where more than 75 % of votes have been polled in favour of one candidate shall be identified as critical Polling Stations”. Going by the few shots that this writer was able to watch of the live streaming on polling day, it must be said that everyone seemed to be on their best behavior. Although there seemed to have been the occasional attempts, for whatever reasons, to switch off the cameras, put it on pause or change its angles, incidents of poll malpractices would have come down, at least in those polling stations with CCTVs.  Despite being a cent percent Christian State, Christianity and the fear of the Lord has become redundant, especially during time of elections. Going by how our political parties and their leaders have shown apprehension to installation of CCTVs in polling stations, it is obvious that we fear the video camera or web casting more than God. However if technology can help us to be truthful Christians, no one should complain.