Why we need Election Reforms ?
There is no second thought about the fact that India is the largest democracy of the world and one of the most powerful democracies in the world indeed. With all its flaws, it has survived for more than 63 years. At the time India gained its independence, people all over the world doubted whether a nation with a mix up of hundreds of religion will able to retain its unified status.
But India proved the world wrong and it has founded a solid infrastructure for the economy to evolve and to develop the life standard of its people. In the recent times, it has become common among the general thoughts of the people of India that the country is on the verge of becoming superpower. But the truth is that our country is projecting spectacular growth against the back drop of ramshackle system. Indian democracy is undergoing through a remarkable process of change in the arena of its all three tiers (executive, legislature and judiciary) and it is still to find out as what impact these changes will have on the future of country. One such big change need to be initiated in the election system of the country. I have no doubt while making this point that the world hails about our humongous election system as it do about our population and keeps a close watch over the periodical election of India and hence it accounts to the portrayal of the image of Indian democracy. And thus the growing realization is that a lot could be achieved if we have a strengthened election system by removing the loop holes it has and bringing in the best reforms we can, to choose the best body to run the country affairs and the best candidates for the right place, those who can subordinate their own interests before the nation’s good. I would not debate about the duties and the responsibilities of a candidate contesting election and about the positive and negatives of the politicians of India as a lot of time has already been wasted on this rather I would like to draw your attention on the key points and their possible solutions. In India we can have the opportunity to see the bizarre political scene before and after the election which is off course entirely different to one another. Pronunciamentoes or as we call the manifestoes are single time tool to fool the electorate. It is no secret that the election are fought with the money power, which is gathered from various sources both black and white and once elected you have ample opportunity to repay these sources and also to refill the lockers to fight the next elections and retain the power. One important step that election commission has taken in this regard is the increase in ceiling on election expenditure in lok sabha and assembly elections. Recently election commission revealed the new expenditure slab, that is, 40 lacs per constituency in bigger states and 22 lacs per smaller constituency. But the question that still arises is, whether this really going to help? When the expenditure is in thousand crores, few lacs seem topping of birthday cake. Astounding facts and figures surfaced during the polls in Tamil Nadu on April 13, as AIADMK chief Jayalalitha made allegations on DMK using freebies to lure electorates. TV channels scratched the scoops and find out that people were willing to vote in exchange of 200 rupee recharge of mobile phone. Whatever the case may be, this was just an example to project that how the elections are contested in India. Second most important thing that draws my attention to itself is the criminalization of politics. It is worth mentioning that out of 543 members in lok sabha, 153 has cases of some or other type registered against them, 54 have much serious cases, including murder registered against them. There is total of more than 600 elected MLA’s and MP’s who have criminal cases registered against them in various courts. Earlier booth capturing was a common feature during the polling process in states like Bihar and UP, regards to electronic voting machines as at least some brake have been put to the process. But still the efforts are on to come up with some sort of technique with EVMs too, to manipulate the result of polling. It is still to see whether there sincere efforts will lead to any fruition or not! In March, 2003, the Supreme Court gave a severe jolt to government and all major political parties by striking a decision in favor of representation of people act by making it mandatory for the candidates contesting elections to declare their criminal antecedents, education, wealth, qualifications etc. The election commission also brought into the effect the Supreme Court directive on the affidavits to be filed by the candidates contesting elections along with their nomination papers. Also instructions were issued to make media available with the copy of affidavits for the purpose of dissemination of information. Also election commission was successful in creating a model code of conduct to be followed by all political parties and has been able to build consensus among parties on the implementation of it. Creation of identity card has eliminated the evil of impersonation. After all these commendable efforts of election system and judiciary we have got to see some considerable changes in the election process of India. A much improved election system is required to make the election process both transparent and accountable so that the influence of illegitimate money from tainted sources and unacceptable force of criminalization does not make democracy a farce. -Gaurav Saini