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Election Commission: A Pillar of India’s Democracy
Context:
India adopted its Constitution on November 26, 1949, establishing free and fair elections as fundamental to democracy. Article 324 created the Election Commission of India (ECI) on January 25, 1950, ensuring independent control of elections. Article 329 barred judicial intervention, safeguarding uninterrupted democratic processes.
Foundation of the Election Commission:
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) was established on January 25, 1950, under Article 324 of the Constitution. Its primary mandate was to ensure free and fair elections in India through its “superintendence, direction, and control” over the electoral process.
Major Steps Taken by the Election Commission
- One of the most significant decisions was bringing Vidhan Sabha elections under the purview of the ECI. This ensured uniformity and impartiality in electoral processes across states, preventing provincial governments from influencing outcomes.
- Over the years, ECI has introduced reforms to streamline elections, enhance transparency, and protect the integrity of the democratic process.
Global Recognition of the Election Commission
- Indian elections have gained worldwide admiration. US Senator Hillary Clinton called India’s election process a “gold standard,” while The New York Times described it as “the greatest show on Earth.”
- The ECI’s International Institute of Democracy and Election Management has trained election officials from over 130 countries, reflecting global respect for India’s electoral expertise.
Dichotomy Between Great Elections and Great Democracy:
- While the ECI has ensured large-scale, efficient elections, India continues to be classified as a “flawed democracy” in global indexes. Free and fair elections alone are insufficient to build a thriving democracy.
- Issues like corruption, low voter education, inadequate civil liberties, and poor political accountability persist.
What Is Holding Indian Democracy Back?
Several factors hinder India from realizing the full potential of its democracy, despite a strong Election Commission:
- Illiteracy and Political Awareness: A lack of voter education often skews electoral outcomes.
- Corruption: Rampant black money in elections undermines fairness.
- Low Women’s Participation: Despite constitutional equality, women’s participation in politics and voting remains relatively low.
What Apart from Elections Is Needed for Democracy to Thrive?
Free and fair elections must be complemented by broader democratic reforms, including:
- Promoting gender equity in political participation.
- Strengthening civil liberties and political accountability.
- Encouraging transparent and inclusive political practices.
Key Interventions by Judiciary to Protect the Electoral System:
India’s judiciary has played a vital role in upholding electoral integrity. Key rulings include:
- Basic Structure Doctrine: Affirming free and fair elections as part of the Constitution’s basic structure (PUCL vs Union of India, 2003).
- Electoral Bonds Ruling: In February 2024, the Supreme Court declared electoral bonds unconstitutional, countering crony capitalism.
- NOTA Judgment: Recognized the “None of the Above” option, empowering voters.
- Union of India vs ADR (2003): Highlighted that democracy cannot survive without free and fair elections.
Challenges to Indian Democracy:
- Low Women’s Participation: While Article 326 granted equal voting rights to women, their participation has been historically low.
- The ECI has improved the voter gender ratio to 948 women per 1,000 men in 2024, up from 928 in 2019.
- Women’s voter turnout has also increased, with women outnumbering men in 19 states during the 2024 elections.
- Legislative action, such as the 33% reservation for women in Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabhas from 2029, marks a positive step.
- Legislative Role in Gender Inclusion: Efforts like the Women’s Reservation Bill and quotas in local body elections have been commendable. However, more proactive measures are needed to encourage women’s leadership in politics.
Threats to Democracy:
- Black Money in Politics: Despite regulations, the influence of black money has grown. In the 2024 elections, 46% of MPs had criminal cases, and 93% were crorepatis.
- Political Defections: The Anti-Defection Law (1985) has failed to curb horse-trading and defections, undermining political stability.
- Other Dimensions
- Media Influence: The rise of paid news and biased media affects voter perception.
- Social Polarization: Caste, religion, and regional divides often dominate political narratives, eroding the democratic spirit.
Critical Reforms Demanded by the Election Commission:
The ECI has proposed several measures to strengthen the electoral process:
- Ceiling on Political Parties’ Expenditure: Similar to the limits imposed on candidates.
- State Funding of Political Parties: With independent audits to reduce dependency on private donations.
- Independent National Election Fund: For tax-free donations, allocated based on electoral performance.
- Protection for Election Commissioners: To ensure impartiality and independence in decision-making.
