The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has reportedly found yet another reason to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, after US President Donald Trump claimed that Brazil’s election was rigged. Notably, in Brazil’s elections, Trump supported candidate Bolsonaro lost to his competitor Lula.
According to the CJP’s brainless workers, if an American president can question an election in Brazil, surely India’s CEC must be held accountable for every electoral controversy from Delhi to distant South America.
The logic, as usual, is breathtaking. Brazil has its own election authorities, its own political battles and its own democratic institutions. But why should geographical boundaries, constitutional jurisdictions or elementary common sense come in the way of a perfectly good protest?
CJP workers, who have seemingly turned resignation demands into a full-time occupation, were quick to connect Trump’s remarks to their favourite Indian target. Their argument appeared to be that if elections are questioned anywhere in the world, Gyanesh Kumar must explain himself. Exactly what the Indian CEC has to do with Brazil’s electoral arrangements remains a mystery that even the party’s most accomplished slogan-shouters have yet to solve. But for these newly born politicians, Gyanesh Kumar is Voldemort, behind every evil in the world.
The development has also exposed an interesting feature of contemporary opposition politics, the internationalisation of domestic grievances. When an election result goes against expectations, the search for inspiration begins abroad. If Nepal offers a protest movement, it becomes a model. If Bangladesh witnesses political upheaval, it becomes a lesson. If Serbia produces student demonstrations, suddenly everyone wants to study Belgrade. And if Donald Trump questions an election in Brazil, the CJP discovers another compelling reason to march against Gyanesh Kumar.
At this rate, the Election Commission of India might soon be held responsible for electoral disputes in every country whose name appears in an international newspaper.
For the CJP, however, evidence has always been an optional accessory, much like a party manifesto that nobody reads. The resignation demand is the destination; the argument is merely the vehicle.
Perhaps the party should consider a more ambitious proposal, establish a permanent international commission to investigate every election questioned by every politician on Earth. Gyanesh Kumar could be summoned whenever an American president complains, a Brazilian election or a Serbian election or if an election result disappoints someone somewhere.
Until then, the CJP can continue its familiar campaign. The world may be arguing about democracy, electoral integrity and political accountability. The Cockroach Janata Party, meanwhile, appears to have found its own universal electoral principle – whenever something goes wrong anywhere, demand Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
