One Party Democracy

THE Prime Minister's claim, in the wake of the results of the by-elections, that democratic institutions have been strengthened in the last 18 months, in contrast to the 'drift and anarchy' between March 1977 and December 1979 has, unfortunately for her, been punctured by the Election Commission itself. At least in the Garhwal Parliamentary constituency, the actions of the government, both at the Centre and in the state, have been judged to have been so blatantly partisan and coloured in favour of the ruling party that the Chief Election Commissioner has ordered a repoll in the entire constituency.