We are in the midst of the general elections. It is an occasion of critical importance for more than one reason. India is the biggest democracy, and this time 96.88 crore citizens are eligible to vote. Each vote, no matter for which candidate, is a vote for democracy. A large number of democracies around the world are holding elections, and the outcome of each of them will influence various world events in different ways. But it will be India’s elections that will contribute the most to the deepening of democracy itself.
The need of the hour, obviously, is to make the elections as participative as possible. The Election Commission of India (ECI) must be complimented for making every effort to reach out to the voters and make arrangements for voting in far-flung places, some of which are difficult to access. Civil society organisations and news media have also created campaigns to raise the awareness about the right — and the duty — to vote.
Voters too have responded to that call, enthusiastically exercising their franchise in the first two phases. The trend so far has been satisfactory. But, whenever voting-percentage figures are discussed, observers and analysts often mention a big challenge, namely, the hot weather. If voters have come out in good numbers despite the heat, their participation in the democratic process would have been much greater if the elections were being held in less taxing weather.
In the current scheme of things, weather is an unavoidable factor. The elections have to be scheduled in such a way as to have the results before the term of the 17th Lok Sabha expires (on June 16). The voting has to be spread over several weeks, considering logistics and security requirements. Given these two facts, what we have got is an election schedule that starts in April and ends in June — precisely the period when most parts of India suffer from the rising mercury levels. It should be noted here that the ECI, while scheduling the elections, does take the weather factor into consideration, but it had to stick to the final deadline of June 16.
As the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued alerts and warnings of heat waves in many districts during April, the ECI did take swift action. It decided to set up a task force comprising officials from ECI, IMD, NDMA and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) to “review the impact of heat wave and humidity, five days before each polling phase for any concerning developments and mitigatory measures, if necessary”. The MoHFW was directed to issue necessary instructions to health authorities in states to prepare for and extend assistance in case of heat wave conditions affecting election operations. The ECI also asked state-level authorities to make arrangements for shelter, drinking water and fans at polling stations.
I am sure these measures provide a degree of relief to voters. Yet, they cover only one aspect of the election process. The campaigning by candidates, political leaders and party cadres has to happen outdoors, in the heat and dust. Reports of veteran leaders fainting in public rallies were shocking but not surprising. The so-called voter apathy, then, can set in during the campaign phase itself. Arrangements at the polling station must be appreciated, but voters who may have to travel a considerable distance under the blazing sun in rural parts may prefer not to venture out.
We should note that these scenarios are more of a norm than an exception. This weather condition is not at all unusual for the Indian summer. The temperature soars way above 40 degree Celsius in the northern plains and the southern peninsular and coastal regions — even above 45 degree Celsius in some places. More importantly, there will be the same extreme-weather issues in future, whenever voting will take place in May-June. The conditions, if anything, can only worsen — due to global warming and climate change.
We, therefore, need to debate the timing of the elections for the sake of voters, campaigners and, let us not forget, the officials in charge of conducting elections. Needless to say, it is crucial also for the health of democracy.
It is high time we proposed a weather-friendly time-table for general elections. Let me clarify here that this subject was not part of the Terms of Reference for the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections that I chaired. My suggestion about the election timetable is separate from the Committee’s recommendations and is made in personal capacity. I feel that the climate concern is serious enough to require a well-considered and collective response. All stakeholders should come together to address this question in the interest of democracy, and find a way out. Our objective should be to conduct elections in such weather conditions as are conducive to maximum participation and thus strengthen the project of democracy in India and also around the world.
The writer is former President of India
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