Elections legitimise change of power and enable orderly transition from one political system to another. These Elections will determine whether people approve of the ideology and politics of Bharatiya Janata Party or reject the same. Since the bulk of the electorate in these areas are illiterate and live in rural areas, political parties would like to influence them with appeals to feudal, caste and communal instincts and liberally use money and muscle power. Voters in these States have demonstrated both in 1977 and 1991, that they have an independent mind and are not swayed by charisma or political rhetoric. There have been many violent incidents during polls and reprisals after the polls.

There has been a qualitative change in the ground realities since them. Ayodhya episode has deepened and widened the communal divide and the religious minorities have been alienated by all political parties. They are in no mood to vote en-bloc to oblige any party. The ‘Kulaks’ and self appointed leaders of peasantry have lost their hold. Left parties have become irrelevant and almost non-existent. ‘Mandal Movement’ has revived the fading caste configurations. Thus, these Elections will be fought primarily on communal and caste considerations giving rise to emotionally surcharged atmosphere. This spells great danger for peace and order during the ‘poll process’.

Political parties, who came to power in these four States in the past four decades, have systematically politicised the bureaucracy and there are no vestiges of an impartial administration. Police organisation had also become a victim to this.

To have free and fair Elections, the voter needs protection during the poll campaign; protection to exercise his vote without fear or favour on the poll day; and protection from reprisals in the post-Election period. Past experience shows that the have-nots, the Scheduled Castes, the tribals and the minorities are threatened with violence or offered inducements of cash or liquor to vote for particular political parties. When this failed, force was used to prevent them from voting for any one else. The evils of impersonation, booth-capturing, tampering of ballot boxes, obstruction to voters are to be eliminated. These are possible, only when the police forces act impartially and decisively to assist the poll process.

Unfortunately, the civil police system in these States have been completely politicised and the police have become the handmaiden of political netas. Bulk of the police forces consist of Armed Police units like P.A.C., R.A.C. and S.A.F. Minorities have often expressed their lack of confidence in these forces due to their alleged partisan attitude and inaction during communal disturbances. Consequently, their deployment at grass-root level Election duties may not inspire confidence in the people. While the induction of Central Police forces could be the answer, it should also be borne in mind, that majority of C.P.O. personnel hail from these areas and they are also likely to be affected by local caste and religious atmosphere. It may therefore be necessary for the Election Commission to induct police forces from other States particularly from those not affected by communal virus. It may be argued that these personnel may not be familiar with the local language and customs. This would work out to our advantage in ensuring neutrality.

It is necessary for the E.C. to keep a close watch over the performance of the police machinery to avoid complaints in the future. Towards this end, from the date of notification of the polls, the entire police force in these States should be deemed to be under the operational control of the E.C. No police personnel of any rank should be transferred from his post except on charges of moral turpitude, without the clearance of the E.C. E.C.should appoint Police Advisors for each of these States to assist in supervising and overseeing the law and order arrangements. These advisors should be preferably those who have served in these States and are familiar with the complexities of Police administration. The selection should be from among senior retired police officers of these States with reputation for integrity and impartiality. Reports submitted by these Police advisors should have the same weight as those of the Election Observers in determining the gravity of electoral delinquencies.

Election duties of a law enforcement nature, should not be entrusted to ‘irregulars’ but only to regular police personnel. All police personnel either from C.P.Os or other States, should be vested with police powers under the Cr.P.C. All electoral offences are to be made cognisable and the police officer on the spot should be capable of taking action without waiting for a formal complaint from the Presiding Officer or other poll officials.

Police officers do need protection from political victimisation after the Elections. To ensure this, no disciplinary action against any police officer, for delinquencies purportedly committed while on Election duties, should be initiated without the prior consent of the Chief Electoral Officer and the final results of such action should be communicated to the Election Commission.

Democracy depends for its survival on the existence of a politically neutral and professional police organisation. While this may take time to realise, as a short-term measure, conditions are to be created to protect police from political victimisation for the just performance of their Election duties and an administrative cover be provided to give them operational freedom. Since the political parties are not interested in having an impartial and professional police force during Elections, it is upto the Election Commission to ensure this. It should be realised that in the ultimate analysis, it is an impartial and a politically neutral police force that can maintain peaceable conditions for free and fair polls and protect the voter from violence and intimidation.

In the politically surcharged atmosphere in these States, free and fair polls are not possible without an impartial and professional police organisation to assist the E.C.