Supporters of the Indian Aam Aadmi Party (Common Man's Party) hold brooms, the party symbol, as they celebrate outside the AAP office after their candidate Arvind Kejriwal won the state assembly election aganist Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, in New Delhi on December 8, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
Only in the small state of Chhattisgarh, where a massacre of its top leaders by Maoists had created a wave of sympathy, did the Congress fare relatively well. Elsewhere it struggled, with the election, unusually, in most cases a two-way race between it and the BJP. One of the most interesting electoral outcomes came in New Delhi, where the newly created Aam Aadmi, or ‘Common Man’ Party, did surprisingly well, with the leader of the anti-corruption league unseating Congress Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit from a constituency she had made her own in the biggest shock result of the election. Ms Dikshit has said she will be reviewing the result, but has also immediately congratulated the winner.
This spirit of goodwill is something we can learn from, as we continue to wrangle over rigging allegations. The Indian state polls were held in an orderly, transparent manner — and marked by a clearly evident show of maturity. Results were not disputed, the verdict of the people was accepted. This is something we can learn from. Of course, we have a far less democratic experience compared with India — but it is time we began to learn what democracy is all about. The example of gracious conduct set across the border during the state polls is something we can place before us and use as a model for the future.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2013.
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@harkol: Good analysis. Hope this can be emulated in Pakistan if not in our generation, at least the process can be started in this generation.
@Usman:
Bhai. Don't have such high opinion of independence of institutions. The reason why the replica would be needed has something to do with the cussed nature of govt. with regards to custom duty. In many cases govt. undermines institutions.
The only institutions govt. hasn't touched are the ones that have constitutional mandate - like Supreme Court and Election Commission. But, even here there is some level of corruption, even at top level.
Having said that, Election Commission of India is easily the most non-politicized, independent and non-corrupt institution in India. Thus, election results are rarely challenged. In fact, politicians are affraid of Election Commission, who can seize money, transfer officials and even cancel an election all together if officials are not satisfied about the fairness! Thus, politicians try and don't cross EC overtly.
The most important reason why Democracy thrives in India has nothing to do with Election Commission. It has to do with people of India.
WE REFUSE TO ACCEPT DICTATORS. When Indira Gandhi was at her popular peak, a court judgement disqualified her election. She imposed emergency to save her seat and suspended fundamental rights. Even supreme court was under pressure. It was virtual police state. But, People refused to accept emergency and there was a huge uprising with almost all opposition in prison and she delayed elections. People staged such large protests all over and Indira was forced to declare elections, and EC remained independent! Indira was handed one of the worst defeats congress ever suffered.
People of India had the good fortune of great leaders like Gandhi, Nehru & Shastri to guide them for almost 20 years when the democratic traditions took deep roots. It will take a lot to shake India from those roots.
That's the difference between Arabs and Indians.
@" The Indian state polls were held in an orderly, transparent manner — and marked by a clearly evident show of maturity. Results were not disputed, the verdict of the people was accepted." All this is thanks to the electronic voting machines and the election commission.
Only if there are free and fair elections, via electronic voting and where institutions are independent. India hosted the World Cup, the PM presented a replica trophy to the winners because the real trophy had not cleared customs and was still at the airport. Had it been Pakistan, the Customs Official would have been fired by the PM. Not in India, there, institutions are independent of the executive. Here NAB can't even investigate past PMs, let alone the sitting PM.