Elections mean chaos?

Most of the elections to the 126 union parishads (UP), pourashavas and upazila parishads that took place last Thursday were peaceful and fair, but contestants of the ruling party and their supporters disrupted the peace and order in certain places. This will remain as a poor precedent.

The free, fair and peaceful elections in Rangpur City Corporation have naturally given rise to hope among the people that the election culture has taken a turn for the better. All the contesting candidates hailed the election results. But it was unfortunate that this trend wasn’t kept up in the relatively less important UP, pourashava and upazila elections on Thursday.

BNP candidates declared a boycott of the elections in 17 union parishads due to the use of force by the ruling party candidates. The number 17 may seem relatively less compared to the total of 126 union parishads, but even so, why should there be such chaos or display of force at all? The election commission (EC) should investigate the matter. They must neutrally look into why the election environment was disrupted in these areas.

Investigation must also be carried out to see if, along with the contesting candidates, the administration and law enforcement agencies were involved in the matter. The EC can cancel the results in places where there have been serious irregularities or discrepancies. That will teach the concerned candidates a due lesson. The EC can in no way remain a silent spectator. It must take up a stern stand for a free and fair election. No matter how powerful a candidate of party may be, no one is above the law.

The institution in which 160 million people have put their hope, cannot shirk its responsibility, no matter whether it is a local election or the national ballot. The people’s mandate must be given due respect. The EC must be alert so that the confidence generated by the Rangpur City Corporation elections does not go in vain.