April , 2009
A deadly quiet
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The EC may be jeopardizing electioneering
Is the world's largest democracy undertaking the magnificent ritual of electing its rulers? The prevailing atmosphere is funereal and deathly quiet. The only hulla gulla is seen on television, where cameras are zooming in, like thirsty pilgrims at an oasis, to some signs of life, some sign of open enthusiasm, at party offices or the rallies. Meanwhile the role of cash in elections only seems to be growing. Bagfuls of notes, indeed suitcases full of notes are emerging. Every day there is one more notice from the Election Commission for violating the Model Code of Conduct. The Model Code looms like a dictatorial manual, converting what was once the world's most colourful rumbustious election process into an eerily quiet dictator's dream. Silent underground tactics have replaced the overground riotous bargaining of our desi democracy.
Is the undoubtedly well-intentioned Election Commission paradoxically striking....
More about Sagarika Ghose
Sagarika Ghose has been a journalist for 20 years, starting her career with The Times of India, then moving to become part of the start-up team of Outlook magazine, subsequently joining The Indian Express as Senior Editor. She was anchor of the flagship BBC World programme Question Time India before moving to CNN-IBN as prime time anchor and Deputy Editor. She is the anchor of the award-winning flagship debate programme Face The Nation on CNN-IBN. She is also a columnist for the Hindustan Times. She has won numerous awards including FICCI Media Achiever Award and Gr8-ITA Award for Excellence in Journalism. She is a graduate in History from St Stephen's College and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford University where she gained an MA and M.Phil in History and International Relations. She is the author of two acclaimed novels The Gin Drinkers and Blind Faith, both published worldwide by HarperCollins Publishers.
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