ELECTORAL REFORMS

Electoral Process is an area where we have not seen much of reforms. Election Commission may be doing their job of conducting the elections to Parliament and State Assemblies successfully in a free and fair manner. But what has been done to clean up our electoral scene? When can we see a beginning in this sphere?

- We have seen known criminals and goondas fight elections and get elected. There is no bar on such people contesting elections.
- We have seen blatant cash-for-votes during elections. There have been seizures of loads of cash during elections. But the practice goes on unabated. There are no convictions nor any sort of punishment to the party and its members in question.
- There are norms laid out for candidates as well as parties about various aspects of contesting but Election Commission turns a blind eye or are unable to bring the culprits to book.
- No limit is set for the number of candidates per constituency
- In my opinion making an independent to contest elections does not serve any purpose.
- Election commission should only recognize parties who have a certain standards.

In a democracy people are given freedom to vote and choose their leader and it can work only well if people exercise this freedom in a mature way. People have to consciously vote for a candidate who has a clean image and will do good for the society. Voting on the basis of caste, community, class should be avoided. If the candidates who get elected are educated, well-informed, non-corrupt, think progressively for the welfare of the people, whatever party they may belong to, then our Country is in safer hands.

I hope Election Commission does much more than mere conducting elections so that during the Amrut Kaal we see welcome changes in this aspect which is one of the signs of a vibrant nation whose goal is Ram Rajya. more