Introducing electoral reforms to reduce the influence
of money and muscle power in politics
Team details : Apeksha Sizaria , Mudit Maheshwari,
Pallavi Verma , Himani Chhabra, Spandan Saxena

PROBLEM STATEMENT
In India 3M’s rule – money power ,
muscle power and mafia power have
a great influence in conduct and
outcome of the election . Changes
have to come sooner before countries
future is at stake .
Large sum of money used during
election for buying votes is against
the spirit and soul of liberal
democracy where the freedom of
choice is its watchword.
The democratic election process
anywhere in the world necessitates a
huge expenditure for its conduct,
monitor and the electioneering
process inevitably involves the use of
huge sum of money either legally or
illegally.
The cost of holding and conducting
election in India is equivalent to
holding simultaneous elections in the
US, EUROPE, CANADA AND
AUSTRALIA. Such is the seriousness
of the role of money in one has to
think whether the role of money is
holding our movement towards
democracy back?
* In short, money power is against the spirit of democracy, encourages unfair and illegal means,
leads to corruption, nepotism and in fact goes against the very soul of our constitution of justice
enshrined in the preamble.

NEED FOR POLITICAL REFORMS
 As we follow the democratic system of
electoral politics & governance, the starting
point is ELECTIONS for centre & state
legislatures. Quality of the elected
representatives determines the quality of
governance. Therefore, election process has
to be cleansed by introducing the reforms so
as to have clean polity, sincere, worthy &
meritorious elected representatives leading to
better governance of the country, thereby
uplifting the quality of life of the citizens and
take the country to the path of real progress.

CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM
Since electoral reforms require parliamentary approval,
corrupt politicians have strong incentives to prevent it.
e.g.
 Greed for power
 Lust for money
 Lowering of moral values
 Invincibility acquired by politicians
 Clinging to power by hook or crook
 Use of political power for personal gains
 Tacit support of senior leaders for illegitimate methods to
suppress the rivals
 Erosion of feeling of SEVAK from the elected legislatures

PROPOSED SOLUTIONS
 Stringent Screening Norms for candidates
contesting elections. Following criteria could be
incorporated in fixing the qualifying norms.
A. FIRST TIME CONTESTANTS:
a. Qualification
b. Police record in preceding 10 years
c. Kind of police cases running or in pendency
d. Detail of public work done in preceding 5 years
e. Public image
f. Audited financial status and position of self & family

B. REPEAT CONTESTANTS:
a. Latest updated police record
b. Latest audited financial status and position of self &
family
c. Work done in the constituency after last elections
d. Public image
e. Any other point worth mentioning

 Curtailing the Independent Candidature
a. Raising the Deposit amount substantially
b. Forfeiting the deposit if polled votes are < 10% of
the total vote cast
c. All the above screening criteria applies
 Constituting The Screening Teams
 Establishing An IB Like Agency Under The
Auspices Of Election Commission To Provide
Inputs To Screening Committees
 Raising the Election Expenses Limit To Realistic
Level

 State Funding of Election Expenses For Such
Independent Candidates Whose Financial
Status Is Weak. For such candidates the
deposit restrictions may be lowered and / or
waived.
 Levying an Election Cess (may be 0.5%) on
Income tax to create a fund for using it in the
above cases.
 Setting up of Judicial Benches consisting of
Retired High Court Judges In Every State / UT
To Deal Exclusively With The Cases Related To
Politicians ensuring Speedy Disposal Of The
Same.

 The Kind Of Cases Which Such Benches Will
Deal Could Be Decided By Supreme Court.
However, The Cases Of High Magnitude Will
Be Heard By High / Supreme Court Only As
Usual
 Cessation of Political Career, if convicted by
Supreme Court in serious crimes (Social,
Civil, Criminal, Financial, Cheating, Forgery,
Corruption, Abuse of Power etc.)

MERITS OF THE SOLUTION
 Screening Process Will Raise The Quality Of Candidates. Since
Existing System Does not have any Checks on the claims
submitted & declared in Nomination Forms
 IB like agency will help in correct screening process. Currently
there is no such process under the control of Election
Commission.
 Raising the Election Expenses Limit will ensure more
transparency in the declaration of expenses. Current Systems &
Procedures for declaration & accounting will remain in practice.
 State Funding to needy independent candidates will provide
opportunity to genuine to contest election on a level playing field.
Source of creating funds has already been proposed.
 Special Judicial Benches will ensure fast disposal of cases. This
will also allay the apprehensions of Political vendetta /
vengeance, fake cases being filed.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SOLUTION