What's up, EC?

Is the Election Commission (EC) getting biased? Consider the following points.

1. Remember all the controversy over veiling of elephant statues in UP? One could probably say the EC was getting over zealous in this regard. This was with respect to the BSP.

2. Salman Khurshid took on the EC, issued a regret remark (I don't think he even apologized) and he got off

3. Beni Prasad Verma did the same, the EC has issued a showcause notice. Even before this Verma said this was a slip of tongue.

4. Robert Vadra is making not-so-subtle if not blatantly in-your-face remarks which indicate he is itching to get into politics. His "coming out" occasion was a motorcycle rally he held in UP. An IAS officer stopped the rally as the number of motorcycles was above the permitted number (maybe we see over zealousness again). This officer was transferred out and his transfer was only stopped after a hue and cry was raised.

So do we see the EC going soft on the Congress? Is it not enough that we already have a government and party in power which seem intent on suppressing free speech in this country? Do they seriously need more ammunition? Apparently some remarks critical of the government, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are being quietly removed by service providers like Twitter. Verma has to reply by tomorrow to the EC's notice. For once I wish the EC would show some spine and actually take some action. As all leaders should be aware, ignorance of the law is not an excuse for violation of law. It is probably time to remember the days of Seshan who put the fear of God into our "representatives".

Further the President's son was caught with one crore in cash during the course of the recently concluded civic polls in Mumbai. His excuse - the money was to be distributed among poor candidates - seems as ridiculous and poor as the one given by a BJP minister in Karnataka when he was caught watching porn in the state assembly. He was issued a notice by the EC. What is the status of this case?

Moving on, there was a piece of news that got me thinking. The centre will file a review petition against the Supreme Court's recent order in the Vodafone tax case. This will apparently be heard by the same bench which delivered the verdict. Remember the Army Chief vs the govt showdown that happened recently? The Supreme Court had initially pulled up the govt over "vitiated procedure" as the Attorney General was involved at two different hearings of the General's plea. Now do different rules apply to the executive and judicial wings? Would the Vodafone verdict encourage more companies to opt for tax havens to conclude deals for assets based in India? I wonder...