Election reformation

Election reformation for good people’s governance by the elected government

CHARTER POINT NO.12:

Election reformation

• Elections in India at Centre, States and Local Bodies:
  
  Today Election commission is conducting Parliament elections to elect MPs, Assembly elections to elect MLAs and local body elections to elect MLCs/Ward/Panchayat Members in all States and Union Territories throughout India for every 5 year term.  Presently since independence, this 5 year term of elections varies for parliamentary elections and to various state Assembly elections and for various local bodies in different times throughout the country.  Thus Election commission is always busy in conducting elections to Parliament or in various states or other all through the year perpetually.
  
  For conducting each election for Parliament to elect MPs, for all states Assemblies to elect MLAs, for all local bodies to elect ward members/MLCs, Panchayat members, Election commission is spending thousands of crores. For this 2024 parliament elections, Election Commission has spend about 1 lac crore.  Similarly Election commission spends crores for conducting elections for all States and Union Territories and for local body elections in all the states. The spending by Election commission is met by the government out of people’s tax money.
   

• Politicians are most blessed people
  
  All people involved in public service like political party members are blessed Atmas as they got direct opportunity to serve the people as service to humanity is service to God. By doing this service honestly, they can release their karmas and attain mukti faster than by people involved in any other avocation.
  
   

• Why elected political parties who form Government involve in corruption? Is their corrupt practices are justifiable?
  
  Presently people standing in the elections are like entering into gambling ground. Whatever they spend for elections, their chance of winning the elections is a question mark because the vote difference between  winner and loser in the election is mostly marginal and all the political party candidates spend equal money for elections.

  In the recent parliament elections in 2024 all political parties and their candidates standing for elections have spent at apprx. Rs.4 lacs crores for this 2024 elections.  The political parties and its candidates standing for elections altogether spend lacs of crores, especially for paying to their political party for getting MP, MLA, MLC seat, then for canvassing,  for bribing the voters by giving cash or gifts for each vote etc.

  If they win in the elections their first target is to take back the money invested in election by way of misusing the funds allocated for various people’s welfare schemes and collect bribes from business houses for giving approvals, licenses, and they grant tender contracts for laying roads, bridges, culverts, school building, slum building construction, while constructing houses for slum dwellers, tribal people etc. in their binami names and spend a part, do the work with inferior material and swindle the allotted tender money into their pockets after bribing the government officials involved.   Like this in whatever possible manner, they try to swindle money from the people and from Government schemes and accumulate wealth in Binami names, in Swiss banks, in hawala transactions and money laundering acts etc.

  In their five years term in the office as Minister, MP, MLA, MLC, or ward member they target to accumulate wealth for minimum 2 to 3 elections to meet the budgeted expenses for next election.  Because if they lose in next elections, they have funds to meet the next elections.

  If a political party candidate lose in the election, which mostly by a small margin of votes difference, their already money spent in the elections is a loss, and they have to wait for 5 years.  Since they have lost all money in the elections, to regain the lost money and to accumulate money for next elections to be held after 5 years they involve in illegal or immoral activities like drug or human trafficking, illegal betting, kidnappings and claiming ransom from rich people, making money through kangaroo courts, hawala transactions, black marketing etc.  Thus they aggravate the criminalism in the society.

  All this is because the present day election system is like gambling and the people standing for election for various political parties are in a vicious circle and they gave justifiable reasons for involving in corruption to get back their invested money.
  
   

• Where is the fault for this political corruption?
  The politicians are spending crores for getting seat by their political party, then spend for election canvassing, bribing voters etc. As they spend crores they want to take back the money on getting elected by invoving in corrupt practices.

  But in the present day situation, these politicians involved in formation of the government in the centre and in all states invariably involve in corrupt practices to accumulate money and they justify for their corrupt practices as they spend crores to get elected to represent the people.

  As MP, MLA, MLC are elected by us to represent the people of each constituency in Parliament, State Assembly or in Corporation/Municipal/ Panchayat council, it is the duty of the people for whom they represent have to spend to elect their representative. Then only we have the right to question them for their corrupt practices because as they spent crores in elections, they have to take back that money and hence they involve in corrupt practices.  It is the not their fault, it is the fault in the system of election and it is fault on the part of the citizens who illegally take bribe from all the political parties candidates for voting for them.

  To eradicate corruption by politicians,  the election expenditure has to be reduced both by the government and the political parties and their candidates.  The fault in the system of elections has to be corrected and it is the duty of the Government and the citizens to take corrective steps.  How to take corrective steps is detailed below:

  The following are the 6 steps process for taking corrective steps to reduce the election expenses and to eradicate corruption from the system by politicians involved in the government operations in their 5 year term:
  
  1). One Nation One Election
  2). Voting by All – to ensure 100% voting.
  3). Penalty for non-voting by people
  4). Common platform for election canvassing by candidates and their political parties
  5). People’s Election Fund
  6). Public Governance Reporting
  7). Publishing  of Annual Assets & Liabilities & Income & Expenditure statement by each MP, MLA, MLCs,
  8). Right to Recall
  9). Elected Members Monitoring Mechanism
  
   

• One Nation one Election:
  As presently the Government at Centre is seriously contemplating to implement the One Nation One Election, Government and all the opposition parties and elected MPs, MLA, MLCs should give their consent to pass necessary legislative amendment for conducting One Nation One election ie should strictly implement one common elections for Parliament, All state assemblies and all local body elections at one time as it saves lacs of crores of election expenditure to the government, which can be utilized for people’s welfare and developmental projects to build a developed India faster.

  This will also reduce the election expenses of all political parties because candidates standing for elections to MP, MLA, MLC for each political party they all together can proportionately share the total elections expenditure.

  This measure will drastically reduce the election expenses of the political parties and their candidates standing for elections.
   

• Voting by all: ​
  Today if we see the % of voting in booths are mostly less than 50%.  The reasons for this low voting are many. Some of the reasons are as follows:
  1). There are many people who may be travelling, or gone abroad or out of station or some are old and sick and could not move out of home or some may be hospitalized on the election day and they could not come to election booth and vote.
  2). People avoid going to election booth because they feel they have to stand in big queue in the hot sun or in the rain.
  3). Some people have fear of getting hurt due to some fights between rival political parties.
  4). Some people, especially educated and elite have the feeling that whether we vote or not, whoever comes elected is not going to do anything. Those elected MPs, MLAs, Ward members does not come for next 5 years to meet the  people seeking their grievance.  They only involve vigorously in swindling public money. Then why to waste time in going to polling booth, standing in the queue to vote. Hence many people go on holiday picnic on the election day as that day is declared as government holiday.
  5). People have the feeling that even if they do not vote the political parties at the fag end of the voting day send their partymen/goondas to vote by massing rigging of elections.  If anyone opposes they will be threatened or killed.
   

  Thus when the % of voting is announced by election commission after election, they announce about 50-70% voting.  But the vote % increase at the fag end of the day is because of the poll rigging at the fag end.

  If 100% voting is not ensured, then corrupt candidate with poll rigging get elected and as his term is only for 5 years, he will make all hook and crook plans to swindle money by involving in all kinds of corrupt practices.  Thus we knowingly elect corrupt politicians. Had all educated and elite people ensured 100% voting and make a thorough study of the credentials of the candidates and elect right candidate to represent them in the Parliament, state assemblies or local body elections, we can elect a right social oriented, patriotic candidate to represent us as MP, MLA, MLC in the Parliament or Assembly or Legislative council/panchayat who can do good for the constituency.
  
   

• How to achieve 100% voting by all the eligible voters of India:?
  To make all the citizens at their convenience from their home or office or wherever they are on the election day to vote, Election Commission should introduce electronic voting through mobile smart phone using Aadhar card and facial identification and OTP for voting. This will enable 100% voting by all. Today majority of people in rural and urban cities are having smart phones and all are provided with Aadhar card and voting id. They can easily vote through their mobile phone with Aadhar OTP.

  For those illiterate people, Election Commission should arrange mobile election booth van covering 2-3 wards. In this mobile election booth Van the election official will explain the people who have no smart phone or who do not know how to vote through smart phone, as to how to vote through the smart phone fixed in the van and guide them how to vote using their Aadhar no. and OTP. This election van should go round each ward to reach the people at their door step with public speaker announcement for public who could not vote or illiterate of smart phone voting to come and vote in the mobile election booth van.

  As the election commission is arranging voting at the door step of the people through mobile election booth vans, besides people to vote with their smart phone from their convenient place, the Election Commission can reduce heavy cost on taking on rent the election booth premises like schools, colleges for each ward spread throughout the country and also this will ensure 100% voting by all.
  
   

• Penalty for non-voting:
  Govt. should fix penalty for non-voting by public and criminal punishment for illegal money distribution by politicians to procure votes and also those voters taking bribe from them.  As voting is ensured through individual mobile smart phone and through mobile voting booth, this will ensure voting by all and also avoid poll rigging and malpractices.
  
   

• Common platform for election canvasing:
  During election each political party candidates and their star campaigners go for canvassing in each constituency and conduct public meetings.  In these meetings general public do not hear their speeches, only the party workers sit and hear. To show large gathering for these meetings, each party local heads are given money by the respective candidates standing for elections and also by the respective political party to mobilise local women self help group people to attending these road shows and meetings held by them.  These self help group women go and attend all political party meetings in their respective dress code and flag and take money. Thus huge amount is spent for election campaign.
  
  To avoid this cost of canvassing by the candidates of various political parties, or their star campaigners, Election commission should fix a common platform in some public auditorium in each constituency where all the candidates be invited to present their credentials and their election manifesto and a public participation and public debate with each candidate be arranged. The entire proceedings of this common platform canvassing be telecasted live through all news channels, and posted in You Tube, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, Telegram, Linked and other social media and also through  all newspapers for the public to view and decide about the right candidate to whom they can vote. Thereafter these recorded version of their speeches during common platform election campaign be replayed in all news channels and all social media platform for the people to view at their convenient time to know the credentials of each candidate and decide to whom to vote.   
  
  Election commission should ban roadshows and campaign by candidates and their political party workers in large group and conducting public meetings in public places as these are a great disturbance to the general public who are not at all concerned in attending these public meetings and this only create traffic problems, besides it saves huge amount which these candidates spend for their party workers who come for canvassing in arranging food, alcohol etc for their participation.
  
  Hence Election commission by introducing this single platform campaign and telecast though TV news channels, newspaper, social media will not only give wider coverage of the candidates campaign but also save lakhs of crores spending for the cost of canvasing by candidates and their political parties.  As their spending for election is reduced people can confidently now ask them if they involve in corruption
  
   

• People’s Election Fund:
  In democratic India people rule the country. The MPs,MLA, MLCs are elected by the people to represent them in Parliament, Assembly, Legislative council to get the people’s voice to the Government to get their legitimate rights and social welfare benefits.

  Presently for getting elected as people’s representative, the political parties and its candidates are spending lacs of crores besides people take bribe from them to vote. If we people do like this, what right we have to question them for their corruption?

  Morally and ethically it is neither Election commission nor the political parties should spend money for electing our representatives.  It is the duty of people of India to spend our money to elect our representative. For this, Government should  form a separate Election Fund where all people living in India and abroad having right to vote should be made to contribute a minimum of Rs.100/- or any higher amount.  All corporate and business people should also contribute to the Election Fund. Govt. should give 100% tax exemption for contribution to this Election Fund.

  Government should use the Election Fund for conducting elections and also spend this fund for election canvassing for the candidates standing for elections for various political parties.  Government should form a separate Election Fund Committee comprised of Election commission official and one person each from Public NGO, retired Judge, Retired officers from Defence, Police and a representative from media.

  Government should open a separate bank account for people to deposit into this Election Fund.  This Election Fund account should be operated jointly by the members of Election Fund Committee.  This committee will periodically publish the details of total fund collected and the amount spent for elections. This is to ensure transparency in utilization of Election Fund.

  While conducting elections, if there is any shortfall in funds in the Election Fund, then Government can contribute to meet the shortfall. Thus the introduction of this Election Fund will enable the people to spend directly for electing their representatives as MP, MLA, MLCs without the Election Commission nor the candidates standing for election to spend any amount from their pockets.

  Spiritually this will enable people to fulfill their duties to macro family in electing their representative with their money, that will release their karmas. Socially and ethically they can question the elected MP, MLA, MLCs if they involve in corrupt practices and punish them for their misdeeds and also invoke Right to recall for their fraudulent acts.
  
   

• Public Governance Reporting:
  To ensure transparency in performance of public duties by the elected MP,MLA, Ward members, Election commission (EC) should introduce Public Governance Reporting, where the PM, his cabinet ministers, MPs at Centre and CM, his cabinet ministers and MLAs in all the states, Mayor and MLCs in each legislative council should publish quarterly Public Governance Report in widely circulated English and regional language newspapers and also telecast in news channels and post in all social media platforms and forward the said report to Election Commission who will post in their website besides the elected members should post in their official website, giving details of various projects started in their constituency, the budget outlay, the amount allocated for the project by the government, the amount spent, the progress of the project and the stage of completion, no. of public grievances received and solved so that people know what welfare work the elected Govt. at Centre and in the States and the elected members of their constituency are doing for their people.
  
   

• Furnishing of annual Assets and Liabilities and Income &Expenditure statement by each MP, MLA, MLC:
  Each elected member should file with the Election commission and also public through news challans and all social media platforms, and in newspapers, a statement of their personal Income Tax Return, Income & Expenditure and Assets & Liabilities every year, which will be posted in Election commission website for the public view.  This reporting will enable the elected MPs, MLAs, MLCs to be cautious not to involve in any corrupt practices nor take bribery.
  
   

• Right to Recall:
  If any elected MP, MLA, MLCs, fails to publish or report to Election Commission this Public Governance Reporting for 4 quarters in a row, or fail to furnish annual Assets and Liabilities and Income & Expenditure Statement  the Election commission after giving opportunity for hearing to the elected member, and if they fail to furnish satisfactory reply or if they are found guilty of criminal misappropriation or any criminal offence, Election Commission can invoke their power of Right to Recall and appoint the next highest voted representative as the new elected member.
  
   

• Elected Members Monitoring Mechanism:
  Election Commission should appoint an independent Elected Members Monitoring Committee comprised of retired judges, police officials, media persons, Social workers/NGos to monitor the activities of all the elected MPs, MLAs, Ward members. If this Committee found any MP, MLA or MLC involve in corrupt practice, or if any public who is aggrieved by the dereliction of duties by the elected members or found them involving in malpractices, corruption, bribery acts, complain to this Committee, this Elected Members Monitoring Committee will report to Election Commission t00.o take immediate action to call the member and seek explanation and if found guilty, the EC can levy penalty or invoke Right to Recall by removing the elected MPs, MLAs,MLCs and announce the next highest voting candidate as MP, MLA, MLC in their place.

  This stringent step will make the elected MPs, MLAs and MLCs not to involve in corrupt practice but to do good service to the people and wholeheartedly contribute for building our national into a developed India.

  These measures are not meant to doubt or create fear or surveillance of the elected members but to make them to fulfill their macro family  duties honestly, diligently without involving in any illegal or immoral activities and thus release all their karmas fully and move in the path of Jeevanmukti spiritually and at the same socially fulfill their duty to build a developed India.