Should EC Ensure Internal Democracy in Political Parties?

Table of Contents

Role of the Election Commission

Registration Authority: The Election Commission (EC) is responsible for registering all political parties in India and monitoring their compliance with constitutional by-laws. This includes overseeing regular elections for party office bearers.
Mandate and Limitations: The EC’s core mandate, as defined by the Constitution, includes conducting elections for Parliament, State Legislatures, and advising on disqualifications under Article 103.
Monitoring Compliance: The EC conducts periodic reviews to ensure that political parties adhere to their constitutions and by-laws.
- However, compliance is often described as “loose,” indicating that many parties may not fully uphold democratic structures.

Challenges Faced by the Election Commission

Limited Power: The EC cannot de-register a party solely for not holding internal elections, which creates challenges in enforcing democratic practices within political entities.

Fact

A Supreme Court ruling from 2002 restricts the EC’s power to intervene in the internal political processes of parties, limiting its ability to de-register parties for failing to conduct periodic elections unless there is evidence of fraud.

Political Pressure: If the EC were to regulate internal party processes, it risks becoming politicised and susceptible to external pressures, which could undermine its credibility and impartiality.
Dominance of Personalities: Many political parties are dominated by individual leaders, leading to unopposed elections and a lack of genuine democratic engagement despite formal compliance with election laws.
Public Perception: While the EC has maintained a high reputation for managing elections, there are concerns about its effectiveness in ensuring internal democracy within parties. This perception can affect public trust in the electoral process.

Suggestions for Improvement

Electoral Discipline from Voters: It is suggested that the discipline within political parties should come from the electorate. If voters perceive a party as undemocratic, they should choose not to support it in elections.
Focus on Core Responsibilities: Before expanding its mandate to regulate internal democracy, the EC should concentrate on improving its core responsibilities related to conducting free and fair elections.
Objective Decision-Making: To maintain credibility, the EC should rely on objective measures when making decisions about party splits or disqualifications.
- Example: Counting legislative support can provide a clear basis for determining which faction retains party recognition.
Leave Decisions to Electorate: Ultimately, it is suggested that decisions regarding internal democracy should be left to the electorate rather than imposed through regulatory measures by the EC. This respects the sovereignty of voters in a democratic society.