The need to preserve the shine of Indian elections, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• The credibility of Indian elections, managed by the Election Commission of India (ECI), is facing challenges due to intense protests and allegations.
• The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has generated significant litigation and agitation, raising questions about its management.
• India's elections, involving approximately 98 crore electors in 2024, are globally recognized for their scale and logistical complexity.
• There is a growing concern over chronic allegations of partisan conduct by the poll body and aggressive grievance bordering on rejection of electoral results.
• New threats include digital disinformation, deep fakes, and the increasing influence of money power, including institutional cash transfers.

Indian Elections.jpg

Detailed Insights:

• India's democratic elections have historically been a significant soft power, providing stability and a pathway to development since independence.
• The ECI has been instrumental in conducting massive electoral exercises, leading to the establishment of the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) for training election managers globally.
• Modern challenges to electoral integrity include the potential manipulation of voter databases through undue enfranchisement or disenfranchisement.
• The influence of money power has expanded beyond localized distribution to large-scale institutional cash transfers, impacting electoral integrity and public finance.
• Post-poll defections, facilitated by exceptions in the Tenth Schedule of the anti-defection law, undermine the people's mandate and voter choice.
• The appointment process of Election Commissioners and the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct have also become zones of contention, leading to distrust.
• Restoring trust in the electoral system requires collective, apolitical efforts from all stakeholders, including political parties, to address structural and legal loopholes.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Election Commission of India (ECI): A constitutional body established under Article 324 to conduct free and fair elections to Parliament, state legislatures, and the offices of President and Vice-President.
• Special Intensive Revision (SIR): An exercise undertaken by the ECI to verify and revise electoral rolls to ensure accuracy, completeness, and freedom from errors.
• India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM): Established by the ECI in June 2011 as a global center for electoral training, research, and capacity building.
• Anti-defection law / Tenth Schedule: Added to the Constitution by the 52nd Amendment in 1985, it provides for the disqualification of Members of Parliament and State Legislatures on grounds of defection.
• Model Code of Conduct: A set of guidelines issued by the ECI to regulate the conduct of political parties, candidates, ministers, and governments during elections to ensure a free and fair process.