Let's talk "Electoral reform"

Can the reform happen beyond One Nation-One Poll?

Source: Wikimedia Commons

When a leader is returned to power with a landslide victory, it is the moral responsibility of such a leader to steer the country towards greater good with bold & better reforms and policies coupled with top-notch enthusiasm and determination. While Narendra Modi is definitely a person whose enthusiasm & determination in taking bold steps for strengthening the nation and society is unparalleled and unmatched, it is important for him to understand the bigger systemic & structural problems at the core before working on solutions.

“One Nation-One Poll is undoubtedly a need-of-hour reform, but, it should be achieved addressing multiple core-issues and to ensure sustainability while simultaneously upholding the democratic spirit.”

Just a couple of weeks before the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections, the GST council met to brainstorm on the revision of taxes on certain commodities, and, by the end of that meeting, a majority of the members on the GST panel approved lowering of taxes on certain goods and services evidently adding them to a comparatively lower tier tax rate. The opponents including the INC & JD(S) (of Karnataka), the BSP & SP along with red comrades called the move a mere election stunt to garner votes in the then election scheduled states. In addition to this, probably for the first time in India, these parties held rallies and roadshows against the reduction of tax rates and criticized Narendra Modi directly for foul-playing during elections.

Narendra Modi, blessed with the natural instinct of making great comebacks, while addressing a rally in the then poll-bound Karntaka, responded to all the opposition's allegations in one sentence as quoted below - 

"Whenever I take a good decision for this nation, some great politicians and leaders yell at me saying that I am doing all these for electoral gains. I simply want to ask them one question. Is it possible in India to have a 6-month period without election of any-kind at one or the other point in any given 5-year period?"    

 Surprisingly, if you examine the timeline of elections in India, you'll be amazed by the fact that these elections, spread irregularly over many years, are single largest hurdles for effective & efficient functioning of governments, for proper & accountable order of governance and administration. From the misuse of financial resources to human capital; from tying the hands of governments in implementation of developmental and welfare programmes in the name of MCC (Model Code of Conduct) to a lacklustre in establishing a level-playing field for all the political candidates across the party lines; from the undue advantage a particular party might have in the poll-bound state (due the electoral gains in a neighbouring state) to political instabilities in coalition governments; and finally, from the nature of post-poll alliances to stable governments; everything should be addressed to while setting-up a robust electoral system.

This new electoral system should essentially fulfill the following characteristics apart from one-nation one-poll objective: 

1. Provide equal & fair opportunity for all contesting candidates by setting-up a level-playing field & framework for all such candidates. (same rules for candidates belonging to registered, unregistered political parties & independent candidates).

2. Uphold the democratic spirit by capturing votes in such a way that voting adds value to the political system and simultaneously brings value to the voter. (moving from First-past-the-post voting system to preferential voting system).

3. Ensure mobility or portability of voter i.e. a voter once registered should be able to exercise his/her franchisee once anywhere across the country without having to go through the perils associated with the electoral rolls.

4. An electoral framework that keeps criminals from entering into electoral system and contesting elections.

5. Legal framework that binds coalition partners and avoids tacit crackdowns causing political instabilities. Alternatives for coalition governments. Stringent & time-bound anti-defection laws.

6. Shift to Executive democracy (commonly called as Presidential democracy) in local governments i.e. Municipalities, municipal corporations and zilla parishads chairperson position.

7. Framework to regulate the elements of Election Manifestos released by political parties, political/contesting candidates before or during elections.