\n\n<\/span>Reinforcing Electoral Democracy of India<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\nIndia’s electoral system, enshrined in the Constitution in 1949, is a globally respected democratic framework. As the world’s largest democracy, it has achieved significant milestones but continues to grapple with challenges such as political criminalization and systemic electoral vulnerabilities. The Election Commission has made commendable strides in enhancing voter participation and ensuring electoral integrity. Judicial oversight has played a vital role in upholding democratic values, as evident in recent rulings on electoral bonds. However, to strengthen its democracy further, India must prioritize the implementation of comprehensive electoral reforms.<\/span><\/p>\nCritical Challenges Facing India’s Electoral System<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n- Money Power in Elections:
\n<\/strong>The unchecked use of money in elections undermines the principle of free and fair elections.<\/span><\/li>\n- Political parties and candidates often rely on unaccounted funds, leading to opaque financing and increased corporate influence.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Reports from the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) highlight that nearly 60% of funds received by political parties come from \u201cunknown\u201d sources, including electoral bonds.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Over \u20b916,000 crore worth of contributions have been made to political parties through electoral bonds.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The Supreme Court recently deemed the Electoral Bond Scheme unconstitutional, citing violations of voters’ right to information.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Criminalization of Politics:
\n<\/strong>The growing number of candidates with criminal backgrounds erodes public trust in governance.<\/span><\/li>\n- Parties prioritize electability over integrity, often fielding candidates with serious charges.<\/span><\/li>\n
- According to a 2024 ADR report, 251 (46%) of the newly elected Lok Sabha members face criminal charges, with 27 having been convicted\u2014the highest-ever number of MPs with criminal records.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The Supreme Court\u2019s directive to publish criminal records of candidates has seen limited enforcement.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Low Voter Turnout:
\n<\/strong>Voter apathy, particularly in urban areas, remains a persistent issue, undermining the legitimacy of the electoral process.<\/span><\/li>\n- Factors such as lack of awareness, logistical challenges, and political disengagement deter participation.<\/span><\/li>\n
- In the 2023 Lok Sabha elections (Phase 3), voter turnout dropped by 2.9% compared to 2019, with urban constituencies like Bengaluru witnessing turnout as low as 54%.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Electoral Violence and Intimidation:<\/strong><\/span>
\nInstances of physical violence and voter intimidation disrupt the democratic process, especially in rural and conflict-prone areas.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Such incidents deter free voter expression and compromise electoral fairness.<\/span><\/li>\n
- For example, violence was reported in West Bengal during the sixth phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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\nMisuse of Media:<\/span><\/strong><\/span>
\nMedia propaganda and the spread of misinformation polarize the electorate and distort democratic discourse.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Paid news and fake information exacerbate this issue, with inadequate regulatory oversight.<\/span><\/li>\n
- A survey revealed that nearly 80% of India\u2019s first-time voters encounter fake news on social media platforms.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Instances such as deep fake videos of Manoj Tiwari being used for voter outreach highlight the scale of the problem.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Election Commission’s Independence:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Questions about the Election Commission’s autonomy and impartiality have arisen due to perceptions of bias and delayed responses to electoral violations.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- In 2023, the Supreme Court mandated the formation of a selection committee for the Chief Election Commissioner to bolster independence, but its long-term impact remains uncertain.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The resignation of Election Commissioner Arun Goel, just days before the announcement of the 2024 Lok Sabha election schedule, raised concerns about transparency.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
EVM Reliability and VVPAT Implementation:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Despite assurances, doubts about the reliability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) persist, especially among opposition parties.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- States like Assam reported the replacement of approximately 150 malfunctioning EVMs during elections.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Limited use of VVPAT paper trails in counting further fuels mistrust.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Gender Representation Gap:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Women remain significantly underrepresented in legislative bodies, reflecting systemic bias in candidate selection.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Women constitute only 13.6% of the Lok Sabha in 2024.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam” is set to take effect only after 2029, underscoring the slow pace of political reform.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Frequent Elections and Model Code of Conduct:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Frequent elections lead to governance paralysis, as the Model Code of Conduct restricts decision-making and policy implementation.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Elections spread over multiple phases strain resources and create logistical challenges.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The 2019 Lok Sabha elections, conducted over seven phases, cost \u20b960,000 crore, highlighting the financial and operational burden.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Vote-Buying and Freebie Culture:<\/strong><\/span>
\nThe distribution of cash, liquor, and other inducements undermines the sanctity of elections and diverts focus from sustainable development policies.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- The Election Commission seized over \u20b91,000 crore in cash, drugs, liquor, and other freebies during recent assembly bypolls, seven times more than in 2019.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Unsustainable promises, termed “revdi culture,” shift attention away from long-term policy planning.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Lack of Inner-Party Democracy:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Political parties often lack transparency and internal democracy, fostering centralized decision-making and dynastic politics.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, offers no statutory backing for internal party regulations.<\/span><\/li>\n
- In 2019, 30% of Lok Sabha MPs belonged to political families, highlighting entrenched dynastic politics.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Disenfranchisement of Migrant Workers:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Millions of internal migrants face logistical and legal barriers that prevent them from voting in their home constituencies.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- Census 2011 reported over 450 million internal migrants, many of whom remain disenfranchised.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The EC’s proposed Remote Voting Machines (RVMs) have faced feasibility challenges.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Mismanagement of Delimitation:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>Frozen since 1976, delimitation exercises have created imbalances in representation.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n- States like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have disproportionately higher representation compared to states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which have successfully implemented population control measures.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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