BPP elections

One has long been exposed to much opinion on the forthcoming Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP) elections: the legalities, interests involved, responsibilities of the electorate, the possible time frame and the likely candidates who will be pitching themselves in the fray. Personally, it is the last aspect that proves rather worrying and which the electors should have an insight into before they make their way to the polling booth.

Clearly, the extensive properties and revenues at the disposal of this long-standing community institution have been immensely alluring to Parsis over the years. We find hordes of them emerging from the woodwork at the time of the BPP polls with pledges of selfless work for the community if the voters would just bring them to power for a term or two…or even three in certain cases.

There seems to be one element in common among the aspirants this time around: a complete absence of their background. Where do they pop up from? What is their record — their actual record, not the one they are peddling? It’s a motley grouping that one identifies as they preen themselves for the ensuing conflict. Some of them have been in the public eye already, as they are played up regularly in the Parsi Press.

With the legal sanction for universal adult franchise in BPP elections — a highly welcome measure — another prerequisite should be for all candidates to make known their and their spouse’s collective assets, both moveable and immoveable. It should also be made obligatory for candidates to publicize the audited accounts of the trusts and businesses they control.

J. D. IRANI

j.irani49@gmail.com