Churn and skim the dross

.Denied the PR  extravagance of others, did a fledgling AAP,  capture the imagination across a swathe of populace  to land  a  cache of 28 seats in Delhi and create a political flutter across the nation.Only  an emancipated electorate would  have thrown up such a result. To this extent the job of the EC stands well enabled .But then,the EC  is pitted against extraordinary influence of muscle and money power of parties. It has been able to largely rein in the former with enhanced security forces and polling in  multiple  phases. It has now to arm itself to tackle the latter, with  better and quicker  forensics to detect /  intercept exorbitant money flow into the elections.By filing FIRs on lesser infringements ,the EC may well have  asserted its  authority but needs to go  beyond  .A couple of speedy disqualifications of  candidates, high and low on the basis of proof obtained, should see an immediate and  drastic reduction of this evil. Having witnessed a electoral transformation of sorts with an AAP, the need is eminently for facilitating the entry of more of them and who better to ensure this,than  the EC as the Election Lokpal .These new entrants would  in different ways ,help upgrade  our polity.

 Pub Deccan Herald May 15