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Regular-article-logo Monday, 23 December 2024

Don't make 'unsavory (sic)' comments on the chief election commissioner's statement

The statement reveals the writer's healthy disregard for the definite article "the", but that is not the only problem with the document

Manashi Sengupta Calcutta Published 18.05.19, 07:09 PM
Election has become 'lection' and 'incidence' has replaced incidents.

Election has become 'lection' and 'incidence' has replaced incidents. iStock photo

The document reveals the writer's healthy disregard for the definite article 'the'. The statement says that 'sections of media' reported on an avoidable matter when the EC was getting ready 'for Seventh and last Phase of poling'. And yes, we were all in the middle of 'poling', not polling.

Then, what about that extra 'm' after the comma. Like 'tomorrow,m'? Mmm, is it M for Modi?

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In every line are several gems. If the standard of English is making you concerned, then do read about the 'concerned ECs/CECs' who write books. Or try explaining this to anyone: 'There was a reason, I said few days back in another leading daily that eloquence of silence is always difficult but far more desirable which is far to see the lection process through instead of creating ill-timed controversies.'

Read it. Re-read it. Do it once more. It will still mean nothing.

These are only a few shining examples of prose from the piece. The full statement follows this text, in case you want to skip the morning crossword and brush up on your grammar and spelling skills:

'There has been an unsavory and avoidable controversy reported in sections of media today about the internal functioning of Election Commission of India in respect of handling Model Code of Conduct. This has come at a time when all the CEOs throughout the country and their teams are geared for Seventh and last Phase of poling which is tomorrow,m that is on 19th May, 2019 followed by the gigantic task of counting on 23.05.2019 ahead of EC. All of them and the senior officers of ECI HQ have been working their utmost during the last six phases of elections which barring an odd incidence here there have been largely been peaceful and conducted in a fair, free, and transparent manner.

'The three members of ECI are not expected to be template or clones of each other. There have been so many times in the past when there has been a vast diversion of views as it can be and should be. But the same largely remained within the confines of ECI after demission of office unless appearing much later in a book written by the concerned ECs/CECs. I have personally never shied away from a public debate whenever required but there is a time for everything. There was a reason, I said few days back in another leading daily that eloquence of silence is always difficult but far more desirable which is far to see the lection process through instead of creating ill-timed controversies.

'It needs to be mentioned that in the last meeting of the Commission on 14.05.2019, it was unanimously decided that some groups shall be formed to deliberate the issues, which arose in the course of conduct of Lok Sabha elections of 2014. Out of the 13 issues/areas which were identified, Model Code of Conduct is one of them.'

The chief election commissioner's statement today in reaction to reports that hinted at a possible division within the poll panel is a grammarian's nightmare.

Whether Sunil Arora, a retired IAS officer who is now the poll panel chief, drafted the statement, or one of his subordinates did it, is not important. Dwelling on that, perhaps, would be unsavoury, but definitely not 'unsavory'.

The letter from the office of the chief election commissioner.

The letter from the office of the chief election commissioner.

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