The document discusses proposals to reduce the influence of money and criminal networks in Indian politics through electoral reforms. It notes the nexus between criminals, politicians, police and bureaucracy in some parts of India. Existing laws on disclosure of assets and criminal cases against candidates have not fully addressed the problems. The document proposes a strategy involving a task force of professionals, retired officials and bureaucrats to implement reforms like restricting illegal funding, screening candidates, and educating voters. Challenges include opposition from political parties, difficulty generating funds and implementing reforms within the current system. The goal is to strengthen transparency and accountability rather than replace the existing political system.
2. CRIMINALISATION OF POLITICS : BREAKING THE BOUNDARIES
The nexus between the criminal gangs, police, bureaucracy
and politicians has come out clearly in various parts of the
country and that some political leaders become the leaders
of these gangs/armed senas and over the years get
themselves elected to local bodies, state assemblies, and
national parliament.
This point becomes self evident when one looks at the
number of elected representatives with pending criminal
cases against them at all levels in our federal system.
AMENDMENTS MADE IN THE REPRESENTATIVE OF
PEOPLE ACT 1951 FOR THE REALISATION OF THE
PROMBLEM S IN POLITICS WHICH CONCERNS WITH
MISMANAGEMENT OF ITS POWER:
In 1999 the election commission did amendment in the act
concerning the disclosure of assets and criminal cases
pending against the candidate.
In 2004 the election commission of India proposed
electoral reforms. But the problems with the system still
persisted. Also the second administrative reform
commission came in 2008.
SUBSEQUENT REPORTS BY THE ELECTION
COMMISSION ON ELECTORAL REFORMS ABOUT THE
NATURE OF THE CANDIDATE WERE PRESENTED BUT
LITTLE IT COULD HELP
Q : IS PARTISANSHIP TURNING MORE
PROMINENT?
Rather than concentrating on problems faced by people
( the most likely common man) these partisans are
committed for their so called faction and do whatever odd
means they can to get their work done.
Q : APART FROM ESTABLISHING
ELECTORAL REFORMS WHY DO WE
FIND CANDIDATES OPPOSING IT?
For heavy funding during elections they tend to choose
candidates who can raise lot of money and therefore the
ill play starts taking a toll over the entire system , like
some candidates are alleged to give under valued
information.
INCREASE OF ASSETS OF SOME PARTIES FROM 2002-
2006(in crores)
CRIMALISATION - AN OUTCOME
OF MONEY AND MUSCLE POWER
0
50
100
150
200
250
2002
2004
2006
3. THE STRATEGY TO STOP CRIMINALISATION IN POLITICS:
A WAY TO REPAIR THE SYSTEM AND NOT REPLACE IT
MAIN AREAS TO CONCENTRATE:
Important steps taken by the government in 1997 and 1999 to raise the expenditure
limits and providing free time for promotion of party name, in spite of that there is a
large amount of pumping of money from inappropriate sources. Our strategy of the
concept should focus on acquiring the funds from correct sources and detailed
information to be submitted to the Election Commission. In this way the party
would not rely upon untrusted and illegal methods and this would also eliminate
individuals who joined the party for minting money.
There have been numerous cases against the candidates where they have provided
less information about them and their assets, also many criminal cases are pending
against them. The solution which we are trying to implement is the very same what
the government is trying to do over all this years i.e. a check on the candidates. So
synchronizing the Electoral Commission with other investigating departments and
evolving a new department to check the future leaders who are going to rule us at
different levels.
In the government at different level there is a test mechanism , where the people are
tested and then made a part of the system like recruitment exams, UPSC exams etc.
Our solution plans the same for our leaders at different levels, because the
elimination of bullying in this system can only be done by making a smart system.
A nationwide screening is essential and those getting selected to contest elections at
various levels.
Individual interests are of utmost importance which must be taken care by the
political parties and this is hampered by pooling votes from them in many odd
ways. In order to prevent it we have developed a questioning procedure included in
the voting booth , seeking why they should vote and also for no vote policy, if none
of the candidates interest them.
FUNDING
CANDIDATURE
SCREENING OF
CANDIDATES
QUALITY VOTING
4. GATHERING A TASK FORCE TO MAKE OUR STATERGY WORK AT
DIFFERENT LEVELS
WORKING
PROFESSIONALS/GRADUATES
(A)
RETIRED
BUREAUCRATS/EX-
SERVICEMEN (B)
OFFICIALS WORKING IN THE
SYSTEM (C)
Can motivate people.
Ready to work under any
condition.
Can think of innovative
concepts.
Very close connection with the
new age technology.
Stern decision making
aspects.
Experienced thinking.
Mentor for the youth.
Can develop agendas.
Will have updated
information of the system.
May involve themselves in
the planning process.
Can help and motivate the
youth to join government
services.
Will involve themselves in field
work operations.
Adopt “each one teach one”
policy to give people some idea
about their leaders.
Involving IT sector.
Developing a feeling of
patriotism.
Leading other members.
Regulation of group
operations.
Advice party members .
They will advice policies
according to regulations.
They will give better idea
about government agenda.
Legalising party policies to be
at resonance with the system.
Spreading our solutions on a
broad spectrum.
Synchronising IT sector in
working environment.
Developing new ventures with
other organisations.
Heading the working unit.
Recommending funding
from industrial scale.
Producing wide network of
operations .
Moulding the operation
according to norms.
Defining an authenticated
system.
Creating a channel for the
system to get approval from
government.
SKILLS
CONTRIBUTION
CONCENTRATION
GROUPS
5. MODELLING THE STRATEGY & FINANCE
STRATEGY DESIGNING WITH GROUPS:
Working professionals and graduates should be
trained with respect to the solution model.
The group B task force should prepare agendas and
direct these youngsters towards the party issues .
The parties at regional level should be accompanied
by group A task force where they will plan their
campaigning methods, like, instead of the traditional
way for seeking votes , these parties will help the
people by actually solving their problems.
Utilising funds only for party promotion( banners,
tours, fliers etc.) , necessities and fixing urgent public
issues.
The group C task force will direct group A to conduct
a nation wide political survey showing all the parties
strictly following electoral reforms and in this way
can generate solutions for the parties to restructure
their systems for a better political future .
FUNDING THE SYSTEM:
Organising meetings with entrepreneurs and showing
them our model and making them understand the need
for the investment.
Advertising the industries funding the system.
Seeking help from very successful NGOs and showing
them the credibility of our system.
In return the members of these NGOs can take part in
the decision making process of this system.
Top capitalisation organisations should be involved in
this system.
These organisations can help our systems
restructuring our monetary techniques.
TRAINING AND GUIDANCE
REGIONAL FIXATION
NATIONAL POLITICAL SURVEY
INDUSTRIAL VENTURES
NGOs
PRIVATE CAPITALISATION
6. CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT OF TASK FORCE
CONTROLLING
AUTHORITY WILL
COMPRISE OF:
EXECUTING AUTHORITY
NGOs
TASK FORCE GROUP B
CAPITALISTS
COMMON
MANAGEMENT
HUB
TASK FORCE
GROUPA
TASK FORCE
GROUP C
POLITICAL
PARTY ON
TEST
BUILDING
OF
CANDIDATE
STANDING
IN
ELECTION
AND
HAVING A
CHECK ON
THE SYTEM
(SELECTED
MEMBERS FROM
THE
CONTROLLING
AUTHORITY)
TRAINING
PROGRAM
OFFICIALS FROM
ELECTION
COMMISSION
(ON DUTY)
7. TESTING OF THE MODEL
A party which is not very popular.
The party should be at the regional level.
Group A will help organise the campaign
drawing more public attention.
It will develop taking the system online like
creating a website or blog for updating party
progress.
Group B will take on creating agendas for
the party not directly involving in the
decision making process of the party.
Group C will enlighten the partisans with the
new electoral norms set up by the
government.
Screening of candidates contesting elections
to increase the probability of selection.
The funds will be utilised properly from state
funds.
The records of expenditure will be kept
transparent with the help of Group B & C.
The funding from other organisations such
as industries, private financing firms will be
recorded strictly.
The monetary problem is taken care by this
system.
The candidature is solved by application of
this model.
The fair agenda is established to contest
elections following its reforms.
8. IMPACT AND REACH
It may lead to increase in the
transparency of the present system.
It may lead to increase in the quality of
candidates contesting elections.
The reframing of party ideologies and
working methods.
Voters lacking voting sense will be made
aware of their power of choosing
appropriate candidates.
This model may influence many NGOs to
create better agendas and these
organisations can also collaborate with
our system.
People will be made aware of our system
and can share their interests on
improving our model.
The skills of our taskforce will be
transmitted to the decision making
process of political parties.
It can reach and reorganise many vital
areas of politics , therefore making it
better.
It would help establishing networks with
other successful system at global level.
9. CHALLENGES AND RISKS
Volunteer enrollment is difficult to gather as
they have a strong misconception of politics
being “DIRTY”
Generating funds either by corporates,
government or other sources is quite
difficult as according to them the plan is not
viable.
Screening of candidates might prove a
challenging process as the current political
system does not posses competent ability.
The implementation of the plan will
definitely face a strong opposition of the
parties .
Difficulty in merging the plan with the
current system is a matter of concern.
Government may proclaim this as a fugitive
system and take a strong action against this.
The system may face strong opposition from
parties in and around country.
The claws of bribery may grab the taskforce
thus making the system corrupt.
The party officials may not share the
confidential information with the task force.
The taskforce personnel may be threatened
by opposing forces.
10. BIBLIOGRAPHY
“THE BACKGROUND PAPER ON ELECTORAL REFORMS” BY
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT ,MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE,
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.(DEC 2010)
THE ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIA
DEMOCRATIC POLITICS , NCERT BOOK OF CLASS X.
ROLE OF MONEY POWER OF ELECTIONS BY G.N. RAY
GOOGLE SCHOLAR
REFORMING INDIA’S PARTY FINANCING AND ELECTION EXPENDITURE
LAWS BY M.V. RAJEEV GOWDA & E. SRIDHARAN
INDIA: MOUNTING INFLUENCE OF MONEY POWER IN ELECTIONS
AND THE CRISIS OF REPRESENTATION BY J.PRABHASH