Issues Grappling Elections and Political Parties

(General Studies II – Polity Section – Indian Constitution—Historical Underpinnings, Evolution, Features, Amendments, Significant Provisions and Basic Structure; Salient Features of the Representation of People’s Act.)

• Political parties and elections are the backbone of any healthy democracy. They act as the primary medium through which citizens express their preferences for governance, ensuring representation, accountability, and the peaceful transfer of power.
• However, several challenges undermine the integrity of India’s political system and electoral process, threatening to weaken the foundations of its democracy.

Key Issues with India’s Political Landscape and Electoral Process:

1. Criminalization of Politics: In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, of the newly elected MPs, 251 (46%) have criminal cases registered against them. This is the highest percentage recorded for newly elected members in the Lok Sabha’s history.
2. Money Power and Corruption: The rising cost of elections, with the 2019 and 2024 general elections being the most expensive in Indian history (₹60,000 crores), fosters corruption and increases dependence on corporate and illegal funding sources.
3. Electoral System Flaws: India’s First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system allows candidates to win seats even when a majority of voters cast their ballots for other candidates. In the 2019 elections, nearly half of the elected candidates won with less than 50% of the vote.
4. Voter Intimidation and Manipulation: Reports of voter intimidation, booth capturing, and manipulation of electoral rolls are prevalent in several parts of the country.
5. Paid Promotion and Media Manipulation: Many political parties use media outlets and online platforms to promote false narratives, misinform voters, and drown out dissent, reducing the credibility of the election process.
6. Lack of Internal Democracy in Political Parties: Political parties in India often lack internal democracy, with leadership concentrated in a few hands, typically within powerful political dynasties.
7. Ineffective Election Commission: While the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been pivotal in organizing large-scale elections, its independence and impartiality have been questioned in recent years.
8. Voter Apathy and Low Civic Engagement: Despite being the largest democracy, India struggles with voter apathy, especially in urban areas where voter turnout is often lower than in rural regions. Ex. Voter turnout in Mumbai was recorded at 52.4%

Suggested Reforms to Strengthen India’s Democracy:

1. Decriminalization of Politics

• Stricter Disqualification Norms: Permanently disqualify politicians with serious criminal charges. Fast-track cases involving politicians, as recommended by the Law Commission of India (244th Report, 2014).
• Voter Awareness: Mandate disclosure of candidates’ criminal records across multiple platforms, as endorsed by the Supreme Court.

2. Regulation of Political Funding

• Transparency in Donations: Abolish electoral bonds and enforce real-time disclosure of political donations above a set threshold. The Dinesh Goswami Committee (1990) emphasized the need for transparency in donations.
• State Funding of Elections: Introduce state funding to curb corporate influence, as proposed by the Indrajit Gupta Committee (1998).

3. Reform of the Electoral System

• Proportional Representation: Transition to a mixed electoral system combining First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) with Proportional Representation (PR), as recommended by the Law Commission (255th Report, 2015).
• Runoff Elections: Implement runoff elections to ensure that winning candidates secure a majority vote.

4. Strengthening Voter Rights and Electoral Integrity

• Deployment of Totaliser Machines: Use totaliser machines to anonymize booth-level results, preventing voter targeting and intimidation.
• Stricter Penalties for Electoral Fraud: Impose harsher penalties for electoral malpractices such as booth capturing, as suggested by the Goswami Committee (1990).

5. Addressing Paid Promotion and Media Manipulation

• Regulation of Political Advertisements: Mandate clear labeling of paid political content in media and social platforms, addressing concerns raised by the Press Council of India.
• Monitoring Social Media: Require social platforms to disclose political ad spending and scrutinize fake news and propaganda.

6. Promoting Internal Democracy in Political Parties

• Mandatory Internal Elections: Political parties must hold regular internal elections for leadership and candidate selection, with oversight from the Election Commission of India (ECI), as recommended by the NCRWC (2002).

7. Strengthening the Independence of the Election Commission

• Reforming the Appointment Process: Appoint Election Commissioners through a multi-party committee to ensure independence, as suggested by the Second Administrative Reforms Commission (2007).
• Increased Powers for the ECI: Grant the ECI powers to disqualify candidates for serious electoral misconduct.

8. Enhancing Public Awareness and Civic Engagement

• Civic Education Campaigns: Launch nationwide campaigns to educate voters, especially targeting youth and urban populations, as endorsed by the Lyndoh Committee (2006).
• Digital Engagement: Leverage digital platforms to enhance voter education and political engagement.

India’s democracy, though resilient, faces significant challenges that require urgent reforms to strengthen its integrity and ensure true representation. The introduction of simultaneous elections, totalizer machines, and increased independence for the ECI can further safeguard the electoral process.