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Electoral Rolls and Party Responsibility
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Context:
Recent irregularities in voter lists, such as duplication and ineligible entries, have raised questions on the credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the role of political parties.
Declining Institutional Trust
- Erosion of Credibility: The Election Commission of India, once hailed under T.N. Seshan’s tenure for enforcing electoral integrity, now faces declining trust due to opacity and weak accountability.
- Shift in Campaigning: Political parties increasingly depend on digital tools, social media, and AI-driven campaigns, weakening traditional grassroots networks.
- Role of Consultants: Reliance on professional consultants for campaign strategies has centralized decision-making and marginalized local party workers.
Weakening Local Party Structures
- Neglect of Local Linkages: Technological and consultant-driven campaigns have eroded the role of local party organisations, which are crucial for monitoring voter rolls.
- Booth Level Agents (BLA): The ECI created BLAs as a link between parties, voters, and local officers to scrutinize draft rolls and ensure corrections during revision periods.
- Safeguards in System: Mechanisms like restricting bulk applications and limiting BLA submissions theoretically ensure transparency and minimize voter fraud.
Opportunity for Democratic Renewal
- Lessons from Karnataka Case: Irregularities in Mahadevapura constituency highlight lapses by BLAs, weak local vigilance, and potential institutional bias.
- Revival of Local Units: Parties can use this controversy to rebuild dormant local structures and strengthen electoral oversight beyond election cycles.
- Warning from History: As seen in post-Independence land reform failures, weak local organisations risk undermining democracy itself and creating unfair electoral arenas.
Practice Question
“Discuss how the decline of local party organisations and institutional opacity in the Election Commission of India have together contributed to the weakening of electoral integrity in India. Suggest reforms to restore public trust.” (250 words)
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