India votes: Why have elections been stretched so long?

States are going to the polls in up to five phases so that it is possible to ensure voting is free and fair.

In the true spirit of democracy, the fact that people have the right to vote for the government they want in a fair, unfettered election means huge security arrangements have to be made to guard security booths so that they are not ‘captured’ by one or other political party/candidate.

As security forces are finite, there are states that are going to the polls in up to five phases so that it is possible to ensure voting is free and fair.

All administrative powers during an election are vested in the Election Commission which can, over the head of an elected government, transfer bureaucrats, if it gets complaints that bureaucrats are being partisan to one or other political party.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 9^th, 2014.