Strengthen Democracy: Fix Elections With Bold Poll Reforms
India cannot wait any longer. Elections must be fixed with bold poll reforms to strengthen democracy.
Transforming India’s Democracy: From Quantitative to Qualitative Through Poll Reforms
Wide-ranging poll reforms are essential to transform India’s quantitative democracy into a truly qualitative system-one that could serve as a model for other nations. It is concerning that highly educated officers from the IAS and allied services are sometimes directed by political leaders with limited education. Even more troubling is that invalid votes still appear in elections for the President and Vice President, where only MPs and MLAs are eligible to vote.
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To address these issues, there should be a minimum educational qualification for anyone contesting elections. A possible solution is to create an “Indian Political Service” modeled on the “Indian Administrative Service (IAS).” This would curb the misuse of politics as a family enterprise and restore its purpose as a tool for public service. Historical experience shows that senior bureaucrats often perform exceptionally well when appointed as ministers, whereas less-educated ministers have, in some cases, failed to secure a second term due to poor performance. Implementing such poll reforms would strengthen democracy and ensure capable leadership across government offices.
Fixing Elections: Urgent Reforms for a Stronger Democracy
Additional wide-ranging poll reforms must be urgently implemented without waiting for the often-elusive political consensus. Consider the case of George Fernandes, who was elected to the Rajya Sabha despite severe health issues that impaired his memory. This reveals the need for medical fitness certificates and stricter eligibility criteria before candidates are allowed to contest elections. An RTI response even revealed that his oath as a Rajya Sabha member was read aloud by a party colleague-a clear indication that current systems fail to safeguard democratic norms.
Ideally, elections to the Lok Sabha, state assemblies, and municipal bodies should be held simultaneously in a three-tier system. Similarly, elections for the President and Vice President should also be synchronised, conducted by all MPs and MLAs through EVMs with VVPAT, and with nominations supported by at least 34% of MPs to ensure direct legitimacy.
In cases of vacancies, the Vice President could serve as interim President, or MPs could elect an interim Vice President. If both offices are vacant, fresh simultaneous elections should be conducted immediately, rather than waiting for the five-year cycle. Such poll reforms would strengthen the efficiency, fairness, and credibility of India’s democracy.
Prime Ministers, Chief Ministers, along with Speakers and Deputy Speakers of the lower Houses, should be elected through secret and compulsory votes of House members using EVMs equipped with VVPAT, with nominations supported by at least 34% of members. Such leaders could also be removed through the same process, but only if an alternate leader is proposed in the same motion. Members who abstain from voting could forfeit their voting rights in the House, even while retaining membership. Without implementing such poll reforms, the vision of “One Nation, One Election” cannot be realised, as mid-term elections continue to arise from hung Lok Sabha or state assemblies and government collapses. Even sitting Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, Speakers, and Deputy Speakers could be re-elected under this system, ensuring stability in democracy.
Ensuring Accountability and Integrity in Elections
Furthermore, no person should be allowed to contest from more than one constituency or simultaneously for both Parliament and a state assembly. A sitting MP or MLA must resign from their existing seat before filing nomination for another. Membership should be automatically terminated if a Parliamentarian takes oath as a state minister or Chief Minister, and vice versa. This prevents situations like the fall of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government due to a single controversial vote from the then Odisha Chief Minister, who did not resign from the Lok Sabha after being sworn in as Chief Minister.
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Secret voting for Rajya Sabha elections should be restored using EVMs with VVPAT, with simultaneous elections for both full-term and part-term members. Candidates receiving the most votes would be elected for full terms, while those with fewer successive votes could be elected for partial terms. The Constitution should be amended to remove the largely ceremonial Legislative Councils, which often serve as political assignments for favourites or relatives of leaders.
Nominated Rajya Sabha members should only include those who have never contested an election. No MP or MLA should hold any other party or social post. Ministerial strength should be limited to 10% of the lower House, and the post of Parliamentary Secretaries should be abolished. Such poll reforms would enhance efficiency, accountability, and integrity in democracy.
Individuals who lose security clearance should be barred from contesting elections for six years. The ‘None-of-the-Above’ (NOTA) option should be made meaningful, with candidates receiving fewer votes than NOTA disqualified from future elections, even if the next candidate is declared elected for that term.
Parliamentarians absconding from court summons, even while present at Sansad Bhawan, should be detained until police can execute warrants. Legislators with less than 75% attendance should also be barred from contesting elections for six years. Immunity from legislative proceedings must be curtailed, as highlighted by the JMM bribery case, where the Supreme Court noted its inability to act against corrupt voting. Rules for both Houses should be rewritten to enforce fixed punishments and limit discretionary powers of Chairpersons and committees.
Fixing Political Malpractices to Strengthen Democracy
Parliamentarians should be required to provide full details in their bio-data, including assets, spouse(s), and other personal information, to be publicly available on Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha websites. Transparency of this kind can prevent malpractices, such as hiding additional spouses, as in the case of Dharmendra, who did not disclose Hema Malini as his wife.
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All government dues-such as water, electricity, telephone, rent, or any other charges-should be deducted from salaries, perks, or pensions. Pensions should be withheld until former Parliamentarians or ministers vacate government accommodations. Defaulters should be barred from contesting elections until all dues are cleared and accommodations are surrendered. Even Prime Ministers who have defaulted on using Indian Air Force aircraft for non-official purposes should deposit advance funds for such use, or the sponsoring political party must do so.
Political parties must comply with CIC directives and RTI provisions. All direct and indirect government funding, including tax exemptions, subsidised land, free voters’ lists, and free media access, should be abolished.
Parties that have not contested elections in the last five years should be de-recognised. Sections 13A, 80GGB, and 80GGC of the Income Tax Act should be removed to prevent black money laundering. Mega-budgeted rallies and roadshows should be replaced with live TV debates between prominent leaders and Prime Ministerial or Chief Ministerial candidates.
MPLADS, a source of corruption, should be abolished. Pensions for MPs and MLAs are illogical when similar benefits for government servants have been discontinued. To curb lifelong ambitions in politics, candidates with more than two children or above the age of 65 should not be allowed to contest elections. Experienced individuals can still be elected as Rajya Sabha members, and retired Supreme Court or High Court judges should not take post-retirement political assignments for two years, or risk losing benefits.
To prevent delays in implementing poll reforms, the Election Commission should be empowered to act independently. Any reform it proposes should automatically take effect after a one-year notice to Parliament unless expressly disapproved. This would allow poll reforms to strengthen the credibility of elections and reinforce India’s democracy.
Author Subhash Chandra Agrawal is a prominent Indian RTI activist and holds the Guinness World Record for writing the most published letters to newspaper editors, a distinction earned through decades of engaging public discourse. His numerous RTI applications have helped bring greater transparency to government processes and have influenced key rulings, including bringing offices and decisions under public scrutiny. Agrawal continues to champion democratic accountability and electoral reform from his base in Delhi.
