This document discusses the influence of money and muscle power in Indian politics and proposes electoral reforms to reduce their influence. It notes that while money is necessary for elections, it can distort fairness by giving unequal access to resources. Recent studies show political parties prefer wealthy candidates and election spending far exceeds official estimates. Several suggestions are made to reform the system including banning convicted criminals from politics, public funding limits, and engaging more qualified young people in politics. The goal of such reforms is to create a fairer system that empowers voters over lobbyists and special interests.

1. Fairness at play : introducing electoral
reforms to reduce the influence of money
and muscle power in politics :

2. “J.P. FEFFER DEFINES POWER
AS THE CAPACITY OF A
PERSON,TEAM, DEPARTMENT
OR ORGANIZATION TO
INFLUENCE OTHER”
POWER IS THE POTENTIAL
TO CHANGE OTHERS
ATTITUDE OR BEHAVIOR.
WHAT IS THE(MONEY/MUSCLE)
POWER?

3.  Money is vital for modern democracies
without it citizens would not have the
means to convey ideas nor compete for
political power through electrol
processes. However money can distort the
democratic ideals for fair competition
through unbalanced access to resources to
some individuals or political groups.
 According to recent study of CSDS, money
is a key factor in Indian elections. Although the
122 candidates studied range from Super Rich
to “lower middle” class. All major parties
preferred to back the richer candidates who
could fund their own election expense.
POSITIVE ASPECTSOFMONEY

4. MONEY CAN DISTORT THE DEMOCRATIC IDEALS OF FAIR COMPETITION THROUGH
UNBALANCED ACCESS TO RESOURCES TO SOME INDIVIDUALS OR POLITICAL GROUPS
IN 2008, CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE, POLITICAL PARTIES, AND INDEPENDENT GROUPS
SPENT A TOTAL OF $5.3 BILLION ON FEDERAL ELECTIONS. THE AMOUNT SPENT ON
THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE ALONE WAS $2.4 BILLION, AND OVER $1 BILLION OF THAT
WAS SPENT BY THE CAMPAIGNS OF THE TWO MAJOR CANDIDATES: BARACK
OBAMA SPENT $730 MILLION IN HIS ELECTION CAMPAIGN, AND JOHN
MCCAIN SPENT $333 MILLION.
IN 2004 THE BUDGET SET BY THE ELECTION COMMISION OF INDIA FOR GENERAL
ELECTION IS 2.5 MILLION BUT ACCORDING TO ECE IT INCREASES TO 6.5 BILLION ,BUT
ACCORDING TO INDIA TODAY SURVEY IT IS 115.62 BILLION .
HOW CAN IT BECOME BANE?

5. the percentages of MPs from each
party facing criminal charges. In India :

6. MOST VOTERS(83%) BELIEVE THAT
LOBBYISTS HAVE MORE INFLUENCE THAN
VOTERS OVER ELECTED OFFICIALS . SO IT
HAVE NEGATIVE INFLUENCE ON
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
THE DISILLUSIONMENT WITH THE CURRENT
POLITICAL SYSTEM SO DEEP THAT 52% OF
THEM WOULD PREFER A DICTATORSHIP
WHERE THINGS WOULD GET DONE (ACC.
TO HT-MARS YOUTH SURVEY 2013 )
NEED OF FAIR ELECTION:-
86%
14%
IS THERE ANY INFLUENCE OF
POLITICIAN ON YOU ?
(BASED ON THE SURVEY
CONDUCTED BY HT-MARS
SURVEY TO I.A.S.)
yes
no

7. We have spent decades waiting to be a part of the decision making
,hoping in vain,for something to change the time is now shortlist the
candidates of clean and clear image and start vote for them.
More qualified young professionals should come into politics.
Right to recall must be introduce.
Public awareness.
Former justice MN Vancatchailiya committe report must be
implemented to review the working of constitution to ban the
politician having five year prison.
Citizen funded fair election system have to be implemented i.e a
person or a group SHOULD NOT fund more than a given limit.
SUGGESTIONS:-

8. Federal contribution limits
Federal law restricts how much individuals and
organizations may contribute to political
campaigns, political parties, and other FEC-
regulated organizations. Corporations and
unions are barred from donating money
directly to candidates or national party
committees.
Sources ofcampaign funding willbelikethis -

9. To each
candidate1
To national party
committee2
To state, district &
local party
committee2
To any other
political
committee2
Special Limits
Individual may
give $2,500 $30,800 $10,000 $5,000
$117,000 overall
biennial limit;
 $46,200 to
all candidates
 $70,800 to all
PACs and
parties
National Party
Committee may
give
$5,000 No limit No limit $5,000
$43,100to Senate
candidate per
campaign
State, District and
Local Party
Committee may
give
$5,000 No limit No limit $5,000 No limit
PAC
(multicandidate)
may give
$5,000 $15,000 $5,000 $5,000 No limit
PAC (not
multicandidate) m
ay give
$2,500 $30,800 $10,000 $5,000 No limit
Authorized
Campaign
Committee may
give
$2,000 No limit No limit $5,000 No limit

10. BENEFITS OF FAIR ELECTION:-
 Makes candidates and elected officials accountable
only to the public interests rather than powerful
special interests.
 Makes election fair by levelling the playing field for
candidates (on the basis of ideas and merit)
 Allows politicians less in fund raising.
 Gives all citizens regardless of wealth, a fair shot to
be heard and participate in every step of
democratic process.
 Reinviqorates our democracy by helping to engage
voters and increasing voter turn out.

11. References –
 - joint survey of HT-MARS youth survey.
 - some selected speech of J.P. FEFFER .
 -justice M.N. VANCATCHAILIYA committee
report.
 - Acc.to E.C.I data.
 - LOKSABHA report .
 - INDIA TODAY survey