EC should stall guileful promises by parties

It is unfortunate that the Election Commission of India (EC), supposed to be an autonomous constitutional authority, limits itself to the responsibility of merely administering elections to Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies and the offices of President and Vice-President.

This responsibility it shoulders only when it is mandatory or obligatory which happened once in five years in the beginning days after independence and later as and when elections were called for either in the whole country or in a state. It forgets that it must be cognisant of partisan dishonest promises to lure the people.

It is also unfortunate EC seldom exhibits its authority and responsiveness when election process does not take place. This results in political parties often going scot-free, making false and untruthful promises to the people, which under any circumstances would not be possible and practicable for implementation. Despite endowed with autonomy and freedom, EC rarely dares touch any political party on issues of dishonest promises.

It, however, sticks to the rule book only in the case of candidates’ model code, expenses, affidavits, offensive speeches etc., that too during the election process. From the day one after the formation of new government, opposition parties start making false promises until the next elections, aiming at undermining the government and confusing the public.

The EC for all practical purposes literally sleeps all through the period between election and election, and does not bother at all as to what any political party does particularly with reference to promises galore. When there is no check from any corner, people become losers and have no option except to become victims to false promises. The Commission should check and view any such false promise seriously and, if necessary, threaten to cancel registration if they have no basis to substantiate for their promises. After all, the people cannot be fooled.

One such promise often heard these days in Telangana is TPCC President’s announcement to waive agriculture loans to a tune of Rs 2 lakh when they are voted to power and pay within 100 days. In addition, he has also been promising to pay unemployment allowance of Rs 3,500. These two promises, which he says will be included in their election manifesto, are only to attract the attention of nearly 50 lakh farmers and lakhs of unemployed youth. This is as ridiculous as some political party making a tall promise that it would build houses for poor in Indian Ocean by filling it or in River Godavari or Krishna!!!

TPCC President’s announcement is not substantiated with any sustenance as to how his party (if it comes to power?) will be able to accomplish. It’s a known fact that in several states including Telugu states several promises were made earlier but not kept. Against this background, if one analyses the tall promises made by Congress, it is crystal clear that they are nothing but mere promises and impossible to implement.

This needs a wide-ranging understanding of state finances and the pros and cons for Rs 2 lakh loan waiver amounting to Rs 36,000 crore as well as its possibility and feasibility. TPCC announced that it would waive this entire amount within 100 days or, say, three months after it comes to power. This is a “castle in the air” impossibility, the reason being necessity to mobilise Rs 12,000 crore per month.

Telangana state has an income of Rs 10,340 crore per month from all sources. This includes tax and non-tax revenue. The tax revenue amounts to Rs 5,090 crore which include Rs 1,650 crore from commercial taxes, Rs 1,800 crore from GST and IGST, Rs 850 crore from state excise, Rs 390 crore from registrations and Rs 300 crore from motor vehicle tax.

Similarly, the non-tax revenue amounts to Rs 650 crore including Rs 300 crore revenue from mines and minerals. In addition, from Government of India as state’s share of taxes Telangana gets Rs 1,400 crore and towards central grants it gets another Rs 900 crore. Loans within the FRBM limit and other income from Government of India account for Rs 2,300 crore every month.

As against this income, the essential and committed expenditure to be incurred unquestionably on first of every month includes Rs 3,200 crore for salaries of employees and pensioners and Rs 1,900 crore towards loans and interest, totalling Rs 5,100 crore.

In addition to this, Rs 415 crore for free power to farmers; Rs 217 crore for ration and fine rice scheme; Rs 450 crore for Aasara pensions; Rs 100 crore for Kalyana Laxmi and Shaadi Mubarak; Rs 400 crore for students’ scholarships; Rs 800 crore for state’s share of centrally sponsored schemes; Rs 100 crore for Arogya Sri and EHS scheme; Rs 150 crore towards KCR Kits, RTC subsidy and grants to GHMC; and, Rs 1,050 crore for Rythu Bandhu scheme etc are to be essentially met.

For salaries, pensions, loan instalments, interest payments and other essential expenditure, in all, per month, it amounts to Rs 8,782 crore. Added to this, for irrigation projects another Rs 1,300 crore per month has to be disbursed. All these put together amount to Rs 10,082 crore per month and nothing in this is unnecessary. There is likely to be additional expenditure in view of Pay Revision Commission for employees and pensioners.

This means the income and expenditure almost matches equally. Under these circumstances how is it possible to mobilise Rs 12,000 crore and in case if the entire income is spent on loan waiver that too in one go, as announced by PCC chief, how does the government run? Is it not going to be a freeze of all government programmes and also stoppage of salaries to employees and pensioners? These fundamental questions are to be answered by those who announced the loan waiver.

It is also impossible to mobilise funds through loans as there is a limit to obtain loans imposed by RBI and Government of India. Even the financial institutions refuse to extend loan. It may be recalled here that TRS after coming to power moved heaven and earth and left no stone unturned to waive loans amounting to Rs 17,000 crore all at a time.

It was not possible and, as a result, budgetary allocation had to be made and loan waiver was implemented in four instalments. The present Congress and the Congress-supported governments in Punjab and Karnataka are implementing loan waiver in installments. The neighbouring AP state could only waive so far Rs 11,000 crore out of Rs 24,000 crore in four years. Same is the case with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, UP, Rajasthan where it is done in installments.

The other promise of PCC that it would pay unemployment allowance of Rs 3,500 per month amounts to Rs 7,500 crore at least if there is an estimated 20 lakh unemployed in the state. This is also equally impossible. It is against this background, it requires a check from a competent authority, may be, Election Commission, to see that such false promises attract disciplining.

By: Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
(Writer is CPRO to Telangana CM)