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Should EC Ensure Internal Democracy in Political Parties?

Role of the Election Commission

  • Registration Authority: The Election Commission (EC) is responsible for registering all political parties in India and monitoring their compliance with constitutional by-laws. This includes overseeing regular elections for party office bearers.
  • Mandate and Limitations: The EC’s core mandate, as defined by the Constitution, includes conducting elections for Parliament, State Legislatures, and advising on disqualifications under Article 103.
  • Monitoring Compliance: The EC conducts periodic reviews to ensure that political parties adhere to their constitutions and by-laws.
    • However, compliance is often described as “loose,” indicating that many parties may not fully uphold democratic structures.

Challenges Faced by the Election Commission

  • Limited Power: The EC cannot de-register a party solely for not holding internal elections, which creates challenges in enforcing democratic practices within political entities.
Fact
A Supreme Court ruling from 2002 restricts the EC’s power to intervene in the internal political processes of parties, limiting its ability to de-register parties for failing to conduct periodic elections unless there is evidence of fraud.

 

  • Political Pressure: If the EC were to regulate internal party processes, it risks becoming politicised and susceptible to external pressures, which could undermine its credibility and impartiality.
  • Dominance of Personalities: Many political parties are dominated by individual leaders, leading to unopposed elections and a lack of genuine democratic engagement despite formal compliance with election laws.
  • Public Perception: While the EC has maintained a high reputation for managing elections, there are concerns about its effectiveness in ensuring internal democracy within parties. This perception can affect public trust in the electoral process.

Suggestions for Improvement

  • Electoral Discipline from Voters: It is suggested that the discipline within political parties should come from the electorate. If voters perceive a party as undemocratic, they should choose not to support it in elections.
  • Focus on Core Responsibilities: Before expanding its mandate to regulate internal democracy, the EC should concentrate on improving its core responsibilities related to conducting free and fair elections.
  • Objective Decision-Making: To maintain credibility, the EC should rely on objective measures when making decisions about party splits or disqualifications.
    • Example: Counting legislative support can provide a clear basis for determining which faction retains party recognition.
  • Leave Decisions to Electorate: Ultimately, it is suggested that decisions regarding internal democracy should be left to the electorate rather than imposed through regulatory measures by the EC. This respects the sovereignty of voters in a democratic society.

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