Populism gone berserk

It is a season for sops and freebies. Political parties in the fray in the five states going to polls have made promises that are not only unimaginable but stretch beyond the finances the budgets plan to muster. Despite being unrealistic and irrational, there is no bar on parties vying to garner more votes and seats than their rivals.

Each party is in a race to outdo the other. The freebies range from free gas cylinders and free travel in government buses for women to 400 units of free power to every household in Punjab and Rs. 2,000 to every woman. Thrown amid them are also promises of free supply of essentials like atta, ghee, sugar, petrol and WiFi connectivity, to goodies like bicycles and laptops, housing and farm loan waivers.

There is simply no bar when it comes to making promises. One can promise the moon and come out unscathed at the end of the tenure in power without delivering them. And the fun lies in none of them being termed ‘a corrupt practice’ under the Election Commission’s (EC) code of conduct. This renders it a nettlesome task to deal with the issue that is gathering menacing proportions. In a nation like ours where over a third of the people earn livelihoods below subsistence level, it is quite natural that promises of handouts create traction and lend an unfair advantage.

Just take a look at the promise of free power in Punjab. The Aam Aadmi Party has promised 24-hour free supply across the state. The SAD-BSP alliance outdoes it with its promise of free supply up to 400 units. Now look at the finances of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). Since assumption of power in 2017, the Congress govt has defaulted on paying subsidy dues every year. It has coughed up a power bill of Rs 10,000 crore already, which has to be paid to the PSPCL. Chief Minister Channi recently enhanced the sops and the subsidy bill for the current fiscal has touched Rs. 20,016 crore. Of this, the govt has so far only paid Rs. 7,800 crore.

There is no doubt that such promises that cannot be fulfilled have the effect of manipulating the voters’ choice and must be construed as unfair inducements. Yet they remain perfectly permissible practices under section 123 of the People’s Representation Act. The EC has never intervened when it comes to promises. It is a case of populism gone berserk. In 2013, the Supreme Court had directed the Election Commission (EC) to frame guidelines on promises made by parties in their election manifestos and misuse of freebies. A recent PIL by a private individual reminded the apex court that the 2013 directive to the EC has evoked no response from the poll panel. Unless some checks are put in place, the freebie fervor is likely to gather further momentum.