Title : ELECTORAL REFORMS IN INDIA

Date : Dec 18, 2021

Description :

GS – II

 

Topic à Election related issues

 

• Reforms in the election system are required because:

 

• Criminalization of politics: 40% of LS MPs and 23% of RS MPs have a criminal record.
• Election outcomes are still influenced by money and brute force.
• In the 16th LS elections, just 66 percent of eligible voters cast ballots. As a result, there is a pressing need to improve voter participation.
• In the 16th LS, women make up only 11.3 percent of the population.
• The EC's role should be expanded, and new powers should be granted. Appointments to the EC should be made in a more transparent manner.
• Political fundraising is a highly opaque and corrupt environment.
• Voter victimisation - via booth and constituency profiling.

 

• What changes are required:

 

• Set a limit on how much money political parties can spend, similar to the limit on how much money candidates can spend.
• Consider public funding of political parties (rather than elections), with an independent audit and a complete prohibition on private donations.
• Internal democracy and transparency in the workings of political parties should be enforced. Bring them under the RTI's jurisdiction.
• Create an independent national election fund to receive all tax-free donations. It could be run by the ECI or any other non-governmental organisation.
• Accept the ECI's proposal to provide it legal authority to annul elections if credible evidence of money laundering is discovered.
• Persons accused of serious crimes who are facing criminal charges should be barred from running for office.
• Enable the ECI to de-register political parties that have not contested an election in ten years but have received tax breaks.
• Declare paid news a "corrupt activity" (Section 100 RP Act) and "undue influence" (Section 123(2)) electoral offence punishable by two years in prison.

 

• The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made the following recommendations:

 

• Election commissioners, like chief election commissioners, should be guaranteed tenure security.
• The ECI should have the same contempt powers as the Indian courts. The institution's dignity is harmed by frequent disdain.
• The funding of political parties should be open and transparent.
• Under the Representation of People Act 1951, ECI should be given the authority to create rules.
• The ECI should have the authority to audit political party accounts.
• Elections for the legislative assembly and parliament should be held at the same time.
• If a candidate is facing criminal charges, he should be barred from running for office.
• Make paying for news a crime.
• Allowing a single candidate to run in multiple constituencies is prohibited.

 

• Source à The Hindu à 16/12/21 à Page Number 8

Tags : paid news, national political parties