M L Gupta
In the Parliamentary elections of 2014 and subsequent assembly elections in some states including J&K the people had voted against corrupt dispensation and in favour of parties that had advocated against corruption. Though BJP led NDA Govt. at center has taken some good steps to retreat black money stashed abroad and control further generation through multipronged strategy to weed out corruption but it has failed to diagnose the very root causes of corruption which begins with money and muscle power used during elections. Thousand of crores rupees are being generated as election funds normally raised from corporate sector, business houses and even from traders. The politicians in power also generate money using absolute power vested in them in allotment of lucrative licenses like 2G spectrum and Coal blocks, power development projects, purchase of defence equipments and even in admission in professional colleges, allotment of M.P, M.L.C and M.L.A tickets as well ministerial berths . It is therefore not only necessary to curb absolute power and provide good governance through multipronged strategies but it is also essential to make election system absolutely free of cost for candidates as well parties so that elections no longer remain prerogative of moneyed people and money hungry politician but honest dedicated intellectuals could also contest the same to represent the society. Prime Minister Narendra Modi plug corruption through election system also . Briefly these suggestions are as under which may be debated in Parliament to plug loop holes if any:
* Raise eligibility criteria both at Central and State level for political parties to minimum 26 percent votes secured in last election out of total votes reducing the political system to two or three parties as in western countries.
* The election should be contested between the parties and not between candidates. The parties should receive representation proportionate to the votes secured both at Parliamentary level and Legislature level. Preferably parties should submit lists of their probable representatives to election commission well before the election.
* The defectors should cease to represent and parties be asked to nominate new representative in their place.
* The largest party should be given the rule of the country or state for full term and its decisions in all routine matters including budgets should be final with intimation to respective houses. Two third majorities should be mandatory only in matters relating to security, integrity and unity of the country.
* Independent bodies of experts in each field should be constituted by the President of India or his nominee Governors to devise methods and system to check absolute power, favouritism and nepotism in Government. Tendering and processing of tenders in respect of contracts and purchases should become independent of official or political interference. Prized postings, promotion and transfers should also be regulated to curb absolute power and political/ bureaucratic interference. In order to ensure independence of vigilance, judiciary or any other monitoring agency so constituted, these should be placed directly under president of India or his nominee Governors.
* Already Indian polity at central and state level is emerging into two or three fronts. Therefore likeminded parties can Join hands in the first instance to qualify for required percentage. For Parliamentary elections the regional parties have to become part of one of the Central level party for full five years term .
(The author is former MD JK Minerals Ltd)
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