By SANTOSH MOHANTY
Bihar Assembly election results have surprised one and all, but barring the stakeholders in the BJP-led combine at the Centre. This election was held amid allegations by the Opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi that the BJP dispensation at the Centre has indulged in Vote Chori(Vote theft) by tampering electoral rolls and illegally inserting names of fake voters in the list.
It is known to all that the NDA government doled out Rs 10,000 to women under the scheme Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana shortly before and during the election in Bihar. The schme was introduced in the state for empowerment of women by providing them self employemnt. They were immediately given Rs 10000 and the Nitish dispensation also promised them to financial assistance up to Rs 2 lakh in six month's time.
Reports said over 1.4 crore women got Rs 10000 immediately and the Nitish government ensured that they get the sum without fail even during the election process. The opposition parties did raise a hue and cry over the flagrant violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC), but it was alleged that the Election Commission did not pay any heed to their contention. It did not take any action against the ruling alliance and kept mum throughout, the leaders alleged.
Opposition leaders like RJD'S Manoj Jha and Ashok Gehlot wrote to the Election Commission raising objection on the blatant violation of MCC by the NDA government with distribution of Rs 10000 to women during the poll, but to no avail. Political analysts and critics pointed out that the cash transfers were aimed at buying votes and it was timely done to influence female voters of Bihar. They argued that the high voter turnout of women has proved it that Rs 10000 has played a decisive role in the election outcome.
Prashant Kishor, noted psephologist and also known as an election strategist, who formed a political party 'Jan Suraaj' and fought Bihar election with vigour and vitality but drew a blank. Kishor's party did not get a single seat in Bihar election. But, he has not backtracked from his earlier statement. Kishor has vowed to change Bihar, the mindset of Biharis at any cost even if it takes another five years. The noted political strategist has alleged that Rs 10000 played a vital role to increase the vote share in Bihar poll. He further said although it is not the only factor but other factors including the promise of Rs 2 lakh to women after the election has become a decisive one for the ruling alliance in Bihar.
No Level Playing Field:
Distribution of money just before and continuing throughout the poll process has definitely neutralized the level playing field as the welfare scheme has been converted into electoral leverage for ruling alliance in Bihar. The Election Commission which always boasts that it strictly maintains the level playing field in the polls, has become meaningless after huge money was pumped into the electoral process in the guise of welfare scheme for the women. The timing clearly suggested the ulterior motive by the ruling alliance to influence women voters who constitute fifty percent of total voters of the state.
Opposition leaders have alleged that it is an institutional failure of the part of Election Commission who did nothing to contain such a flagrant violation of MCC. The Election Commission has failed to upheld democratic norms, the leaders said and added that it has completely failed to live up to the situation as a guardian of democracy.
What is most disturbing is that if the practice of distribution of money before and during elections will not be checked, then the democratic values will be eroded to the core and the ruling alliance will go on a buying spree of voters to cling to power for ever. The Opposition leaders of the country must come under one umbrella to save democracy in India or else they must remain prepared to be decimated by the ruling alliance for ever through money power. This is a wake call for them, and they must act in unison to tackle the menace.
