Cries of ‘murder of democracy’ have been, ironically, common in the ‘mother of democracy’. On most occasions, members of India’s Opposition have raised such a concern, alleging chicanery on the part of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP’s penchant for winning power by using methods more foul than fair — engineering defection, for instance, is a favoured strategy — is often the most likely cause of the charge. The BJP, despite its cloudy record in upholding the principles that form the bedrock of a democratic set-up, is usually dismissive of such accusations. But this complacency will not work in the face of the Supreme Court’s trenchant criticism of the mischief that unfolded during the mayoral elections in Chandigarh. After the BJP’s Manoj Sonkar won the mayor’s post by defeating his rival from the Aam Aadmi Party, councillors from the Congress and the AAP — the two parties had contested jointly — alleged that the victory had been possible on account of a sleight of hand by the presiding officer who invalidated eight votes of elected councillors, tilting the balance in the BJP’s favour. No explanation was offered by the official for the invalidation. The highest court has now concurred with the accusation of the Opposition councillors after watching the footage of the proceedings: it described them as a “mockery” and the “murder of democracy”.

A mayoral election is but a speck on the electoral horizon, especially in the year of a general election. But the one in Chandigarh would be an exception. This is because it has brought to light the sad spectacle of democracy being tainted — that too by a presiding officer. It raises the worrying prospect of the erosion of public confidence in elections, big or small. This, in turn, has the potential of destabilising the edifice of democracy itself. The collective cynicism needs to be understood in the context of the all-too-apparent amorality that plagues modern, competitive politics. It must be conceded that the BJP under Narendra Modi has shown the least concern for adhering to the rules of engagement in its pursuit of political hegemony. The blot in Chandigarh could hand a political weapon for the beleaguered Opposition that has accused the BJP of improprieties. But does a muscular government care about morality?