PM, Prez join EC's Diamond Jubilee celebrations

The Election Commission's Diamond Jubilee celebrations on Monday got off to a start with the country's top leadership expressing serious concern over malpractices ranging from money and muscle power to paid news syndrome vitiating the electoral process.

The leaders called for corrective action by the EC and the political parties to cleanse it of the evils, even as they praised the contribution in the last 60 years of the commission, which came into existence on this day on the eve of India becoming a republic in 1950.

President Pratibha Patil, who inaugurated the 60th anniversary celebrations, said the impediments, lacunae and malpractices in the electoral process would have to be removed with determination to make Indian democracy 'cleaner, healthier and stronger'.

The ceremony was attended by the who's who of politics including Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, National Democratic Alliance convener Sharad Yadav, several chief ministers and leaders of national and state political parties.

The prime minister voiced concern that the 'best and the brightest' were not attracted to politics and the educated professionals and the growing middle-class often shy away from the electoral process.

As the country's top leadership went into an introspective mode, Vice President Hamid Ansari dubbed as a 'blot' the extensive media-related malpractice of 'paid news and coverage packages'.

United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi underlined the need to check money and muscle power in elections and prevent persons with criminal background from entering the poll arena.

The President said India has impressive democratic credentials, but has to face the challenge of becoming a 'role model' for other countries.

"This requires that we should be aware of the impediments, the lacunae and malpractices in the electoral process. These would have to be removed with determination, to make our democracy clear, healthier and stronger," she told the gathering which comprised 30 heads of electoral bodies from various countries and diplomats.

Paying a tribute to the EC, the President said that the Commission has been making every effort to create a level playing field between various candidates.

"As we carry on with our work, we should not forget that we swear by the Constitution, and, therefore, we must adhere to its values, spirit and principles. Democracy adorns our Constitution. We have to see that the power of voting vested in the people makes them powerful enough to change their own destiny through democracy," the President said.