1. Home
2. Letters

Need for poll-reforms

Kashmir Times. Dated: 7/3/2013 10:46:06 PM

Dear Editor,
Undoubtedly presently there is no match between what candidates declare as their poll-expenses, and what they actually spend for contesting polls. But big question is if raising limit of poll-expenses will make candidates declare their actual poll-expenses. And if it is to be raised, then what should be the amount which may be upper limit allowable as poll-expense for candidates. No upper limit however high it may be can eliminate unaccounted poll-expense.
Present system of deciding upper limit of poll-expense at discretion of Election Commission need not be disturbed. What we need is drastic and massive poll-reforms in a manner that such good candidates may come into poll-fray who may be able to contest elections within present prescribed upper-limit of poll-expense as set by Election Commission. Unfortunately present poll-system has become like a tailor-stitched one to suit ‘professional’ politicians who enter democratic system mainly for minting money even by corrupt and unfair means with unaccounted poll-expenses as their investment for political business. These politicians of present era have re-defined Indian system of democratic form of governance as a system for the politicians, by the politicians and of the politicians, which dreamt by our constitution-makers as a system for the people, by the people and of the people.
Much is said about supervisory role of Election Commission especially after recent CIC-verdict bringing political parties under ambit of RTI Act. But practically speaking neither government nor political parties have ever cared or respected Election Commission for its repeatedly recommended and long-pending poll-reforms in last several decades which also include a very important recommendation of putting ‘None-To-Vote’ option being placed on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). If this and other poll-reforms are implemented, use of money power will be largely checked making good persons also contesting elections without requiring any change in upper limit of poll-expense.
--Subhash Chandra Agrawal,
Delhi