Reformation in Political Parties


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Reformation in Political Parties

Reformation of Political Parties: In order to face the challenges, political parties need to be reformed. Some of the recent efforts and suggestions in our country to reform the political parties are

  •  Anti-Defection Law: According to this law, MLAs or MPs cannot change the party after the election. If any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the Legislature. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in defection in order to become ministers or for cash rewards. This new law has helped bring defection down. MPs and MLAs have to accept whatever their party leaders decide.
  •  Details of Property and Criminal Cases: In order to reduce the influence of money and criminals, the Supreme Court of our country passed an order. Now, it becomes mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an affidavit giving details of his property and criminal cases pending against him. But there is no system to check if the information given by the candidate is true or not.
  •  File an Income Tax Return: The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organizational elections and file their income tax returns. The parties have started doing so but sometimes, it is mere formality.
  • ·      Other Suggestions of Reformation of Political Parties:

  • A law should be made to regulate the internal affairs of political parties. It should be made compulsory for political parties to maintain a register of its members, to follow its own constitution, to have an independent authority, to act as a judge in case of party disputes and to hold open elections to the highest posts.
  • It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets (about one-third) to women candidates. Similarly, there should be a quota for women in the decision-making bodies of the party.
  • There should be state funding of elections. The government should give parties money to support their election expenses.
  • These suggestions have not yet been accepted by parties. If and when these are accepted, these could lead to some improvements. The problem of bad politics solved by better politics.
  • There are two other ways in which political parties can be reformed:

  • People can put pressure on political parties through petitions, publicity and agitations. If political feel that it would lose public support, it would become more serious about reforms.
  • Political parties can imaprove if those who want this, join political parties. The quality of democracy will improve by the degree of public participation and awareness.
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