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Making the LG poll relevant

Following the closing of nominations yesterday for the local government elections, an important phase in the run-up to the poll came to a close. The decks have now been cleared for the next crucial stages in the holding of the elections - the polls campaign and the voting process.

Besides being proof that the democratic process is continuing to tick even at the local and grassroots levels, the upcoming poll is stimulating considerable interest as a possible pointer to the popularity of the Government. Some would also like to see it as an opinion poll on how effectively the Government is handling the national question. The opposition, on the other hand, is likely to view the poll as an opportunity to make a dent in the Government's power base.

These readings of the true meaning of the upcoming elections could be misleading because what should figure, ideally, in a local poll are issues which are more relevant to local government areas, neighbourhoods and people at the grassroots. Unfortunately, this is hardly the case in such polls conducted locally. Very often, the local poll is viewed as another arena of contestation between the major parties, resulting in national issues eclipsing local, grassroots questions which are immediately relevant to the people's lives.

We hope these vital considerations would be borne in mind by all political parties and independent groups contesting the upcoming elections.

A determined effort to take up local issues and those affecting people living on particularly the social periphery, would give to the poll its fullest meaning. If not, the election would prove a barren exercise in mere popularity testing. We, however, do not wish to minimise the gravity of the ethnic conflict by taking this position.

The questions answered by the Minister of the Interior John Amaratunga in parliament on Thursday, pointed to the recurring widespread interest in the establishment of the often spoken of Independent Commissions. We believe the early establishment of these bodies would go a long way towards preserving the integrity of the electioneering and polling process.

This is because legitimacy is of the utmost importance in exercises such as the conduct of polls. To the degree to which law and order is maintained in the run-up to and the conduct of the elections, the final polls result wouldn't prove controversial.

It is for these reasons that the Independent Commissions should be established swiftly. However, as has been pointed out, the Elections Commissioner would have considerable authority in the handling of the police during the elections, under the 17th Amendment to the constitution. This should relieve some of the current anxieties and ensure the legitimacy of the poll.

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