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Electionsarethelifebloodofanydemocracy.Therobustnessofelectoralprocessesdeterminesthefate
ofthenation.OntheeveofelectionsforLoksabhain2014,weshouldbeabletoappreciatethe
problemsinherentinthepresentelectoralsystemandsomeofthemajorproposalsifimplemented
thatcanbetterthesystem.
EventhoughIndiahasseenoutstandingmenofimpeccableintegrityinpubliclife,theyhavenotbeen
successfulinelections.Ifevenelected,theyhavenotbeenabletocontinuebystickingtothespiritof
thelaw.Theflawedelectoralprocessresultedinnotattractingthebestoftalentsandpublicspirited
menandwomentothepositionsofpower.Italienatedtheminstead.Recentnotableexceptionhas
beenDelhiassemblyelections.
Therootcauseofcorruptionthathasunderminedtheruleoflaw,democracy,marketforcesand
resultedintrustdeficitbetweencitizenandgovernmenthasbeenthescaleofelectionexpenditure.
Electionexpenditure
Invariably,theceilinglawsonelectionshavebeenviolated.RecallthestatementofGopinathMunde
admittingeightcroreswerespentduringhis2009LokSabhaelectioncampaign,anamountmuch
higherthanthepermissiblelimitofRs40lakh.
Herestartsthewheelthecorruption.Thepoliticianshavetoresorttoillegalfundsfrombusiness
personstospendamountonthatscaleinreturnforfavorablepoliciesattheexpenseofpublic
interest.Alltheeffortstocurbcorruptionatalllevelsareincompletewithouttackingthefundingof
politicalpartiesandcandidates.Thewheelofcorruptionlookslikethis

Theintegrityinpubliclifeandsurvivalinpublicofficearenolongercompatible.
Moneyandmusclepowerhavebecomeanecessarybutnotasufficientfactorinwinningelections.All
thepartiesemploythemandneutralizeeachother.
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Irregularitiesintheelectoralprocess
Flawedelectoralrollshavebecomeamenace.Purchaseofvotesthroughmoneyandliquor,preventing
poorersectionsfromvoting,largescaleimpersonation(thoughtheuseofIDcardshavelessened)and
bogusvoting,purchaseofagentsofopponents,threateningandforcingagentsandpollingpersonnel
toallowfalsevoting,boothcapturingandlargescalerigging,bribingpollingstaffandpolice
personneltogetfavoursandtoharassopponents,useofviolenceandcriminalgangs,stealingballot
boxesortamperingwiththeballotpapers,inducingorforcingvoterstorevealtheirvotingetc,illegally
enteringthepollingstationsandcontrollingpollingprocessaresomeofthem.
Thoughpartiesinpowerarepronetoabusingauthorityforelectoralgains,therehasneverbeenany
seriousstatesponsoredrigginginmostofIndia.Theirregularitiesarelargelylimitedtothepolling
processalone,andmostoftheprepollingactivitiesincludingprintinganddistributionofballot
papers,andpostpollingactivitiesincludingtransportandstorageofballotboxesandcountingof
ballotsarefreefromanypoliticalinterferenceororganizedmanipulation.Thatiswhypartiesin
powerhavenodecisiveadvantageinmanipulatingthepolls,andelectoralverdictsbroadlyreflect
shiftsinpublicopinion.
Outcomeoftheirregularitiesontheselectionofcandidatescriminalizationofpolitics
However,themassiveirregularitiesinpollingprocessmakesurethatcandidateswhodeployabnormal
moneyandmusclepowerhaveadistinctadvantage.Sensingthis,mostmajorpartieshavecometo
nominatewinnablecandidateswithoutreferencetotheirabilityandintegrity.
Thus,theuseofmoneypowerandmusclepoweraresanctionedbyalmostalltheparties,andoften
theytendtoneutralizeeachother.Thenetresultisthatcandidateswhodonotindulgeinany
irregularityhaveverylittlechanceofbeingelected.Criminalshaveadecisiveordominantinfluence
ontheoutcomeinmanypartsofIndia,andhaveoftenbecomepartycandidatesandwononalarge
scale.
Newentrantstothepolitics
Ifweexcludethemethodsofheredity,moneypower,musclepower,personalcontacts,highvisibility,
andaccidentsoffate,therewillnotbeevenahandfulofpersonsinthisvastcountryofours,who
haveenteredpoliticswithdeepunderstandingofpublicaffairsandpassionforpublicgoodand
survivedforanylengthoftimeoverthepastfourdecades.Inthetruesense,politicsisabout
promotionofhappinessandpublicgood.Butifthebestmenandwomenthatsocietycanboastofare
eitherpreventedorrepelledorrenderedincapableofsurvivinginthepoliticalarena,thenthat
governanceisboundtobeinshambles,asishappeninginindiatoday.
Thefirstpastthepostsystem
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Infirstpastthepostsysteminwhichthesuccessfulcandidatewinsontheplurality,ratherthanthe
majority,ofvotescast,opinedtheVicePresidentHamidAnsari.
Handfulofcountriesintheworldnowhavethissystem.EventheUnitedKingdomwhichhasleftus
withthislegacyhasbeenusingproportionalrepressionatthelocalelections.
Itslimitationwasevidentfromfactualdata.Inthefirstgeneralelectionin1952,thepercentageof
successfulcandidateswhosecuredlessthan50percentofthetotalvotescastintheirconstituencies
was67.28.Thisfigurewentdownto58.09percentinthe1957election.Inthegeneralelectionsheld
in1999,2004,and2009,itwas60.03,75.87and82.68respectivelymorecandidatesgotelectedto
theLokSabhabysecuringlessthan50percentofthetotalvotespolledintheirconstituencies.
TheconclusionisinescapablethatamajorityofelectedmembersoftheLokSabhainrecentyears,
andevenearlier,wononaminorityofvotescastintheirconstituencies.Thesituationisnobetter,
perhapsworse,intheAssemblyElectionswiththepercentageofthereturnedcandidatesonminority
ofvotescastgoingabove70inseveralcases.
Whenthispercentageisconsideredalongsidetheaveragevoterturnout,itwouldsuggestthatthe
electedrepresentativemaynotbe,oftenisnot,representativeofhis/herelectoralconstituency.
Furthermore,thissystemencouragescandidatestofocusonsecuringvotesofasegmentofthe
electorateandtherebyaccentuateorreinforcesocialdivisionsbasedonnarrowerconsiderationsthat
derogatefrominclusivenessandpromotedivisivetendenciesandsocialconflict,Mr.Ansarsaid.
Ontheotherhand,intheFPTPsystem,thereisdesperationtosomehowwintheelectionina
constituencybyallmeansfairorfoul,aseachseatbecomescriticalinthelegislativenumbersgameto
formgovernmentoracquireinfluenceintheWestminstermodel.Thepartychoosescandidateswho
arewinnableintheconstituencyoncaste,religionandothergroundsbutnotbasedonintegrity.A
personwhohasgoodsupportalloverthestatemightnotstandthechanceofwinning,butwhocan
dividethepeopleonsectarianlinesandwinthevotesinoneconstituencydoes.
Inasysteminwhichwinningtheseatbyattractingthelargestnumberofvotesisallimportant,
honestindividualsorreformistpartiesfightingagainsttheelectoralmalpracticesandcorruptionhave
verylittlechanceofsuccess.
Proportionalrepresentation
Proportionalrepresentation(PR)isaconceptinvotingsystemsusedtoelectanassemblyorcouncil.
PRmeansthatthenumberofseatswonbyapartyorgroupofcandidatesisproportionatetothe
numberofvotesreceived.Forexample,underaPRvotingsystem,if30%ofvoterssupporta
particularpartythenroughly30%ofseatswillbewonbythatparty.PRisanalternativetovoting
systemsbasedonsinglememberdistrictsoronblocvotingthesenonPRsystemstendtoproduce
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disproportionateoutcomesandtohaveabiasinfavoroflargerpoliticalgroups.Thegovernmentin
powerarerarelythetruerepresentativesofpeoplewithdecliningshareofvotes(referthestatistics
above).ManyinIndiaareadvocatingforamovetoPR.Moreonthealternativeformsofelectoral
systemslater.
Roleofpoliticalparties
ThereisnoinnerpartydemocracyinIndia.Thepartieswhicharemostundemocraticallyrunare
electedtorunafunctionaldemocracy.Irony.Thepoliticalpartiesinthewestaredemocratic.There
areclearcutrulesforcriteriaformembership,electionsateveryleveltoelecttheleadershipatthe
nationallevelsothatagoodcandidateatthelocallevelhasgoodchancesofbecominganational
leader,resultingininfusionoffreshenergy,personalitiesandideasinpolitics.
OnthecontraryinIndia,therearenocleardefinedrulesofmembership,electionsarerarityandeven
ifheldaremanipulated.Anythreattothehighcommandthroughleadershipatregionallevelwith
newideasarenippedinthebud.Thechiefministersatthestateareoftenchanged,nominatedbythe
highcommandeveniftheydonotenjoythesupportofmajorityoflegislators.Noamountofsupport
atthestatelevelfortheleaderorhisabilitiescountsifheisapotentialthreattothehighcommand.
Thereisnoinfusionoffreshblood.Partiesarerunautocratically,undemocratically.Notonlythehigh
commandshamelesslypromotetheirkithandkins,theyruntheirpartiesaspersonalfiefdoms.They
alsopreventfreevoicingofopinions.AnycontrarianvoiceagainsttherulingcliqueevenatInner
PartyForaleadstoswiftexpulsion.Eventhoughitisnowestablished,thatdissentisthetrueessence
ofdemocracy,nopoliticalpartyinIndia,withoutexception,providesanyspacefordissent.Howcan
suchasituationbeconducivetothegrowthandprosperityofdemocraticvaluesinourpolity?
Whatweinsteadneedisnominationofcandidatesintransparentmannerthroughelectionsvotedby
partymembership.Politicalpartiesplayacrucialroleindemocracy.Individualcandidatesdonot
havemuchsuccesstodayandtheirpercentageiseverdeclining.Thereisalsopartypositiononvarious
issueswhichcanbeenforcedinthelegislaturethroughwhim.Politicalpartyreformensues
recruitmentandnominationofcandidateswithabilities,goodgovernancecredentialsandtalent.
Basicdemocraticprinciplesofmembercontrol,electedrepresentativesfromlowertierelecting
leadershipathigherlevels,openmembershiprolls,fairandfreeelections,nopowertocentralparty
overregionalandlocalunits,easyandeffectivechallengetoincumbents,norecoursetoexpulsionor
removalofpotentialrivals,andnonominatedofficeholdersatanylevel,shouldbeintegraltothe
functioningofanypoliticalparty.
Everyparty,bylaw,shouldbeobligatedtopracticeinternaldemocracyinallrespects.Thedetailsof
functioningcanbelefttothepartysownconstitution,butitshouldconformtothebroadprinciplesof
democracystatedclearlyinlaw.Theactualpracticeofinternaldemocracyshouldbeverifiablebyan
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externalagency,saytheElectionCommission.Mandatorypublicationofmembershiprollsofpolitical
partiesatlocallevel,electionofleadershipateverylevelbysecretballotsupervisedbytheElection
Commission,acomprehensiveprohibitiononnominationsofofficebearersorexpulsionofrivals,a
wellestablishedsystemtochallengetheleadershipofincumbentsateverylevel,andjusticiabilityof
theseinternaldemocraticprocessesthroughspecialtribunalsallthesemeasurescouldformthe
basisofanymeaningfulreformandregulationofpoliticalparties.
Systemicinertia
Peoplerealizedwithexperiencethattheoutcomeofelectionsisoflittleconsequencetotheirlivesin
thelongrun.Whateverbetheoutcomeoftheelection,therewillbenorealimprovementinthequality
ofgovernance.Thisremarkableinertiaandtheseemingintractabilityofthegovernanceprocesshave
convincedcitizensthatthereisnoreallongtermstakeinvolvedinelectoralpolitics.Thereforemany
poorcitizensareforcedtotakearationaldecisiontomaximizetheirshorttermgains.Asaresultthe
votehasbecomeapurchasablecommodityformoneyorliquor.Moreoftenitisasignofassertionof
primordialloyaltiesofcaste,religion,group,ethnicity,regionorlanguage.Veryoftenwithouteven
anymaterialinducementoremotionaloutburstbasedonprejudices,thesheerangeragainstthe
dysfunctionalgovernanceprocessmakesmostvotersrejectthestatusquo.Inshort,eventheilliterate,
ordinaryvoterismakingarationalassumptionthatthevotehasnoseriouslongtermconsequences
andheisattemptingtomaximizehisshorttermmaterialoremotionalgain.
Antidefectionlaw
Thoughitwasintendedtocombatthepoliticaldefections,itdidleadtosuppressionofinterparty
discussionandholdsagainstthefreedomofopinionandexpressionofpartymembersagainstparty
lineevenifthosemattersarenotconcernedaboutthestabilityorsurvivalofthepoliticalpartylikein
noconfidencemotion,budgetsessionsetc.Theillconceivedlegislationonmuslimwomens
maintenanceaftertheSupremeCourtverdictinShahBanocaseisonesadexampleofsuchacase.
AnevenmoreshamefulepisodeisthewhipissuedbyCongressPartytoitsMPsintheimpeachment
caseofJusticeRamaswamy.Parliamentsitsasacourtwhiledecidingonimpeachmentmatters,and
onlyevidenceofwrongdoingandthejudgmentofindividualMPsshouldmatter.Partywhipshaveno
placeonsuchissues,andaremanifestlyillegitimate,andareprobablyunconstitutional.However,
oncethelawgivesthesameenforceabilitytoallwhips,thelegislatorshavenochoicebuttoobey,or
riskdisqualification.Thisunderminestheverydiscussionanddissentofthedemocracy.
Theelectoralreformsasaresultshouldencompassthefollowingissues
1.Criminalizationofpolitics.
2.Abuseofunaccountedmoneypower.
3.Electoralirregularitiesofflawedelectoralrolls,personation,falsevoting,
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riggingandboothcapturing.
4.Autocratic,unaccountablepoliticalparties.
5.Electoralreformsinlocalgovernments
6.ElectionstoRajyaSabha
7.Thecurseofdefectionsforpersonalgain
8.ThedeficienciesofFPTPsystem.
Moreontheaboveissuesinthenextarticle.
Source:www.loksatta.org/cms/documents/advocacy/electoral%20reforms.pdf

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