ALL IN THE HANDS OF VOTERS

It is over to the voter now. Election 2024 gets underway today, with polling scheduled in 102 Lok Sabha constituencies. For the outcome, however, we will have to wait till June 4 when the votes are to be counted. Keeping the country in a state of suspension this long, and governments across the land-bound down by the restrictive model code of conduct, wasn’t a particularly bright idea of the Election Commission.

- VIRENDRA KAPOOR

In the run-up to the first round of the seven-phase poll, there have been no major violations of the model code, though rival parties rushing to the EC with complaints against one another is par for the electoral course. Suffice to say, notwithstanding the habitual complainers, the elections today are far better conducted, and far more fair and transparent than at any time in the early 50s through the 70s.

In this context, instead of appreciating that we have stolen a march on some of the more advanced nations in conducting polls through EVMs, the professional ‘PILwallahs’ continue to indulge their contrarian tendencies.

Without doubt, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as expected, spearheaded the BJP campaign in the pursuit of what the party calls ‘Ab ki baar 400 paar’.

Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J P Nadda too criss-crossed the country campaigning. Their thrust remained on the government's achievements in the last ten years and what it would do in the next term if given the mandate.