The debate on these reforms was lately triggered after the matter of freebies—which the political leaders used to promise during the election campaigns—came to the fore. It was when the matter reached the Supreme Court that the Government as well as the ECI was directed to chalk out a policy, and bring in laws to address such issues. The same prompted the Government to go for the electoral reforms—which will now encompass, as the Government has given to understand, all the matters which somehow were calling for change, or truncation—for the greater good of the overall electoral system.
But the questions that arise are: what is going to be the nature of the expected electoral reforms, and is the constitution of India going to be the framework for these changes whenever made? The Government has so far just given an outline of the reforms; it has not talked about it at length, which it should. More so, what has the present Government done—if it is now talking of electoral reforms—concerning the promises it made when it rose to power? The people still remember promises of getting Rs 15 lakh in their bank accounts, cutting down fuel prices, and creating employment: if it has not been able to deliver on its promises since 2014, is it in a place of talking about reforms?
What is needed is to bring long-due changes on the matter of who can contest an election and who cannot. There is a necessity for laying down strict guidelines through which it must be ensured that only those who have no criminal record whatsoever get to contest elections and become the representative of the largest democracy in the world, because if the numbers available are to be believed, then nearly 43 percent of Lok Sabha MPs have got a criminal record! The Government knows it well and has been giving out a reason that most of these cases are “politically motivated,” but if it really cares about the sanctity of the institutions of democracy—and democracy itself—it needs to act and act now, ensuring that those tainted are kept at bay.
