Still in talking stage

Much has been narrated, ranted and debated but not acted over the issue of electoral reforms which has been the agenda of all political parties. As polls to five states end by this year and with the big fight in 2024 to be next, the issue of electoral reform continues to beg action. The reason that this issue been so much talked about is because there is an overwhelming view that the country’s system no longer works to benefit the people. It is felt that electoral reform will contribute to better participation of the citizens in electoral practices, reduce corruption and strengthen democracy in India. The Modi government-II had seriously contemplated on implementing electoral reforms when then law minister Rijiju disclosed that the Law Ministry was in constant touch with the Election Commission for bringing forth electoral reforms like the recent amendment to the Act facilitating voter registration throughout the year. However this is a negligible issue when compared with others which have been in public domain for decades. Other suggestions are as old as the subject but they are still relevant such as curbing money and muscle power, prevent criminalisation of politics and politicization of criminals; stop misuse of Government machinery; weed out non-serious Independent candidates; ban casteism and communalism, ensure that any MLA or MP who defects to another party stands automatically disqualified. This will be a guarantee against defections and dissent and work towards transparency and accountability. The conduct of elections is becoming more expensive but it cannot be done away with. The cost for conduct of the Lok Sabha election 2019 was around Rs.4,000 crore. The previous election in 2014 was estimated at around Rs.3000 crore. It is expected that the 2023 Lok Sabha election will cost the nation above Rs.5000. Aall candidates together spent a total of Rs.55,000 crore during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections according to a report from Money Control. Another cousin of money power is muscle power or use of anti-social elements for booth capturing, violence and intimidation.Currently, a candidate who is not convicted can still stand for election. Unfortunately, it becomes impossible to unseat the candidate once elected as the legal process is too cumbersome that the objective of truth and justice is never met. The other is to enhance imprisonment period for those furnishing incorrect details in poll affidavits from existing six months to two years. A two-year jail term could bar the candidate from contesting elections for six years. When democracy allows law breakers to become law makers then it only legitimises criminalisation of the process.Electoral reform should also include a clause by which a candidate who has a police record for serious offence be barred from contesting. The ECI has to relook into the Model Code of Conduct(MCC) so that political parties have to inform voters about the financial ramifications of their freebies. Freebies announced under the guise of welfare schemes are nothing short of allurements to induce voters. However, unfortunately, the biggest hurdle towards a free and fair election process the conduct of the Election Commission of India(ECI). Opposition parties have been critical of the way the ECI has been functioning with some even calling it as the BJP Election Commission. Thus if electoral reform is to have any meaning then this has to begin within the ECI.