A BROAD ANALYSIS OF DEMOCRACY AS A FORM OF GOVERNANCE AND HOW TO SOLVE THE ILLS OF DEMOCRACY.

Based on the presentation at GMCS by our team:

‘INDIA IS SHINING’ – Are you ready for it?

Headed by a Sikh economist,
Presided by a Muslim scientist,
Directed by a catholic Italy born lady,
With 82% Hindu population,
Proclaimed to be worlds largest democracy,
We live in a country with a rich & varied heritage,
Willing to accept everything and everyone….
It can happen only in India……….

I challenge (defy) anyone to cite another country with such diversity and tolerance to its political leadership…

Right from the evolution of human beings there evolved two traditions spiritual and technical, and there is a form of governance governing the people. A quick glimpse from the stone age to date reveals monarchy, dynasty rule, priest and common men and landlords and tenants often trying to put that they are right and thus proving their superiority or getting things done….

Today the main form of government that we see the world over is either democracy or military rule. Dynasty rule and monarchy is also seen at places, but democracy is largely accepted, Putting an end to colonialism in the year 1947, with which India lost many of her riches, monetary, cultural, intellectual, and otherwise, it become a sovereign socialist republic in the year 1950. Democracy has helped us regain our past glory…. Today ours is the worlds largest democracy…

Democracy has expanded during the last 100 years. More than ½ of the independent countries in the world are democratic today. We can see that as years roll by, more and more nations are willing to accept democracy as a form of Government. It began with New Zealand becoming the first country to give full voting right to its people way back in 1900. The map of democracy is constantly changing….

Democracy can apply to many spheres, of life, like we have heard of ‘Swayamwaras’, and it can also take many forms…

Through the presentation that follows we the team of Gauri, Mohandas, Joseph, Dhanjit, and Meera, have tried to give a sense of what it means to experience democracy and its absence, the topic of discussion being, ‘A BROAD ANALYSIS OF DEMOCRACY AS A FORM OF GOVERNANCE AND HOW TO SOLVE THE ILLS OF DEMOCRACY.’

To begin with an ANALYSIS of Democracy as a form of Governance, from which you all can understand what democracy actually means, and why democracy?

Today we are privileged to make such a discussion, practice our views, or opinion. This is possible because we have the freedom, we are democratic. Thus the salient feature of democracy, which makes it outshine other form of governance, are:

1. There could be real freedom to express our views or opinion.
2. People could choose or change rulers.

So what do you mean by Democracy?
Democracy is a from of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people collectively and is administered by them or the officers appointed by them.

Sanjay Gandhi, in an interview taken by Uma Vasudev and published in ‘The two faces of Indira Gandhi’ aptly says that by democracy one does not mean the freedom to destroy everything there is in a country but the freedom to built a country. Every individual in a democratic country has the freedom of expression and has many fundamental rights as against that seen in countries with presidents rule or military rule.

The other features of democracy are:

1. Decision making rests with the people. : There would be peoples rule, decisions taken by elected representative and not with some external powers, as in :
Ø Pakistan, or
Ø Iraq…….
But if we take this idea seriously there can be no country in the world democratic. Grama Sabha in villages can afford this as the community is small. But in bigger places, elected leaders by the people make the decisions. The most common form of Democracy in todays world is: rule through peoples elected representative. Here comes in handy, the well-known definition of democracy by Abraham Lincoln: as the government of the people, for the people and by the people.


2. Free and fair elections: In a democratic country those in power should have good chance to loose. It should not be like in:
Ø China where, a candidate needs to have the approval of the Chinese Communist Party before contesting election so that only they can win, or
Ø like PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) in Mexico, who played many direct tricks and won all the elections since 1930, and therefore the opposition parties never managed to win, though contested elections.


3. One Person, One Vote, One Value: In a democracy, each adult citizen must have one vote and each vote mush have one value. There was a Cartoon, When Sadam was put behind the bars, at the time of elections in Iraq some happily cried, At last ONE MAN ONE VOTE, then Sadam was thinking : ‘I liked it better when I was the One man and the One Vote’. There are many instances of denial of equal right to vote:
Ø In Saudi Arabia women do not have the right to vote
Ø In Fiji the vote of an indigenous Fiji has more value than that of an Indian-Fijian.

4. Rule of law and respect for rights: A democratic government rules within limits set by constitutional law and citizens rights. Every Democratic country has its own constitution, which is not merely a statement of values and philosophy. It is mainly about embodying these values into institutional arrangements. It is not a sacred, static, and unalterable law.


We do not accept something just because it is famous, just because everyone else accepts it. We accept things only if it is beneficial and worthwhile.
Ø Our capability to regain our past glory, which we are trying to,
Ø how we dealt with the famine of 1958-61, the worst recorded one in world history where nearly three crore people died,
Ø When the tsunami hit us. The manner in which people just came out and rose up to the tsunami challenge, came out and helped.
Ø the recent Bomb blast in Mumbai, just a day after which, the city was back to normal,
brings out some reasons why democracy is considered the best form of government.

Thus we can gist down some of the Merits/ or arguments for democracy as:

1. More Accountable. – It responds to the needs of the people. Non-democratic governments response depends on the wishes of the people who rule. A democracy requires that the rulers have to attend to the needs of the people. They fear the opposition party, and press who criticize.

2. Improves quality of decision making. – When a number of people put their head together, they are able to point out possible mistakes in any decision. This takes time. But there is a big advantage in taking time over important decisions. Some may say, too many cooks spoil the brook, but many a hands do make light work.

3. Method to deal with differences and conflicts.- Differences are particularly sharp in a country like ours which has an amazing social diversity. Therefore preferences can clash. In democracy no one is a permanent winner. No one is a permanent loser. Differenet group can live with one another peacefully.

Thus democracies do have good positive effects on government and social life, and so also to citizens.

4. Enhances dignity of citizens – This is what democracy do to the citizens. Based on the principle of political equality, people are not subjects of a ruler, they are the rulers themselves. Even when they make a mistake, they are responsible for their conduct.

5. Allows us to correct our mistake- Mistakes cannot be hidden for long, and there is a space for public discussion on these matters, and there is a room for correction. Either the ruler have to change their decision, or the ruler has to be changed.

Though Democracy is clearly better than any other alternative we know, it cannot get us everything and is not the solution to all problems. This is because of the following factors:

1. Leaders keep changing in a democracy. This leads to instability.
2. Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope for morality. Gandhiji wanted morality in 7 fields, and spoke about 7 sins, one being because of politics without principle.
3. So many people have to be consulted in a democracy that it leads to delays. We know about smart City.
4. Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people. It leads to bad decision. Leader is a part of the whole, sample may not be true representation of the population, we audit students do know that.
5. Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition.
6. Ordinary people don’t know what is good for them; they should not decide anything. All people may not have sixth senses or foresights. Some may not even have hindsight.
7. Too many unfair practices take place during elections.

Clearly Democracy is not a magical solution for all the problems, it has not ended poverty, but it is better from other form of government.

There are four recognized PILLARS of democracy. In Political science:
Ø the legislature which frames the laws of governance through discussions and pressures,
Ø the executive (two categories, one elected by the people for specific period, called the political executive, and the other, permanent executives or civil servents) which implements the law,
Ø the judiciary that interprets the law, in India the powers and the independence of the judiciary allow it to act as the guardian of the Fundamental rights, but it is quite common in other countries for them to be nominated on the basis of well known political opinion and affiliation and
Ø the press which proclaims candidly the public opinion, totally independent in giving its views
they are referred to the First, Second, Third and Fourth estate.


If time permits, could explain how a major policy decision is taken and the role of the four pillars in the context of Mandel Commission (SEBC).

On August 13, 1990, the Government of India issued an order. It was called on Office Memorandum. Like all government orders, it had a number and is know by that: O.M. No. 36012/31/90-Est (SCT), dated 13.8.1990. This order announced a major policy decision. It said that 27% of the vacancies in civil posts and services under the Government of India are reserved for the Socially and Economically Backward Classes (SEBC). Benefit of job reservations were till then only to SC and ST.
This office Memorandum was the culmination of a long chain of events.

i. Second Backward class commission was appointed and headed by B.P. Mandal. Hence it was popularly known as Mandal Commission, which gave its report and recommandation in 1980. Many parlimantarians and partied kept demanding its implementations. Janata Dal govt. in 1989 tried to do so.
· President, head of the state and highest formal authority announced the intention.
· The Union Cabined took a formal decision to implement the recommendations. There was a discussion.
· Prime Minister the head of the government, informed about the decision through a statement in both the house of Parliament.
The decision was not directly taken in the parliament. But Parliamentary discussions on the Report influenced and shaped the decision of the govt. and thus the role of the Legislature.

ii. The Joint Secretary, an officer in the Department of Personnel and Training in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, signed the Order, on behalf of Union Govt. (Executive).
iii. For the next few months, this was the most hotly debated issue in the country. Newspapers and magazines were full of different views and opinions on this issue. Thus the role of the press. Some favored it and others felt that this was unfair as it would deny equality of opportunity to those who did not belong to back ward communities.
iv. Who resolved this dispute? Those who apposed this order, filed cases and appealed to the courts. Supreme Court in ‘Indira Sawhney and other Vs. Union of India Case’ Eleven judges of the supreme court heard arguments of both sides, in in 1992 declared this order valid, with certain modifications like well to do persons among the backward classes should be excluded from getting the benefit of reservation.

Democratic way of selecting representatives is through elections, which is all about political competiton. A lot could be said about the same, which could go on for hours.
The Constitution of India stipulates that India be a federal polity with a central government in New Delhi, and state governments for the various states and Union territories. Consequently, political parties in India are classified as national and state (regional) parties based on their realms of influence. (Appendix)

How Other Democracy (India) Differs?

The Presidential System: Presidents all over the world are not always nominal executives like the President of India. In many countries of the world, the President is both the head of the state and the head of the government. The president of the United States of America is the most well known example of this kind of President. The US president is directly elected by the people. He personally chooses and appoints all Ministers. The law making is still done by the legislature (called the congress in the US) but the president can veto any law. Most importantly, the president does not need the support of the majority of members in the congress and neither is he answerable to them. He has a fixed tenure of four years and completes it even if his party does not have a majority in the congress.

This model is followed in most of the countries of Latin America and many of the ex-Soviet Union countries. Given the centrality of the President, this system of government is called the Presidential form of government. In countries like ours that follow the British model, the parliament is supreme. Therefore our system is called the parliamentary system of government.

To speak of democracy at the global level, there is no single world government today, but there are many institutions in the world that perform partially the functions of such a government, like UN, IMF, World Bank.. They cannot command countries and citizens, but they do make rules that put limits on what governments can do, but these bodies are not fully democratic, there is some concentration of power among the developed countries.

Another matter of debate is, democratic country do not tend to go for war with another democracy. Wars generally take place only when one of the two governments is non-democratic. It could just be a matter of chance. Democracies may have wars, but democracies tend to take decisions in such a way that it reduces the chances of war.

In India one out of every three actual voters is not a Hindu.

CURRENT ISSUES, EMPHASIZING ON THE ILLS OF DEMOCRACY.
Today democracy is government off the people, far the people and buy the people……

INDIA:
The ills of democracy are not confined to India but it is a global phenomenon. We being more familiar with the happenings around us, let us take it into consideration. Local issues will be best understood.

1. Dynasty rule: At times we wonder if it is democracy or dynasty rule that is found here….Its SUNNY DAYS FOR SONS (or for that matter daughters , in laws too)… whether it be our state or the nation, Karunakaran or Nehru…..
Well, birth has always been a factor as much in an age when kings and queens ruled as now when democracy apparently sets the rule of the game.
Inheriting physical appearances of ancestors is nothing surprising but to the Congress workers that is what could prove to be magic in the battle for votes. Many still subscribe to the charm of Nehru -Indira Rajiv name has, yet not, lost its shine as it still creates a familiar ring in the ear. They provide a throw back to the nostalgic era of Indira ‘Gandhi’ and Rajiv ‘Gandhi’
Saying that an Italian should not lead India will amount to narrow mindedness, but if Sania Maino (Sonia) had served India like say Mother Theresa or Annie Besant, i.e. in anyway on her own rights, then all Indians should be proud of her just as how proud we are of Mother Teresa. The speech given by her on Dr. Manmohan Sing becoming the prime minister was great, but what was the real reason for that is unknown to all accept a handful of people and God. Was it courtesy NCP? Why is she reluctant to give a second term to Dr. Abdul Kalam? Sonia Gandhi has been shouldering an enormous burden one of her foreign origin, sadly even after so many years of her moving into the Indira household as the daughter-in-law, and quite an amount of deadwood in the party.

Maneka Gandhi itself is being accepted by the non-congress parties not because she was a former model or an animal lover, but for her links to the Nehru family.


2. Coalition:
The path taken by Indian politics after British Rule is through single party Congress dominance to the present day an age of coalition Governments. Since 1990, the Indian electorate has consistently thrown fragmented verdicts both at the state and national levels. This has led parties with small (and sometimes fundamental) ideological differences to come together as a loose federation of parties to stake claim for power. The Congress has become a withering tree. Real power has quietly slipped into the hands of regional satraps at the cost of the Congress. Coalitions have become a norm rather than an exception on the Raisina Hills. The trend was set in motion during Rajiv days with V P Singh and Chandra Shekhar showing their ability to cobble up an alliance government. "process of fragmentation of the Indian polity is not yet over". Coalition governments in India do not spell disaster, as is widely feared and propagated. They are better equipped to deal with the tensions of a divided society while single-party governments tend to both centralise and homogenise."


3. Delay and lack of transparency: People are willing to know the terms of long run agreements like the smart city projects, why there was so much of delay in signing, which has put infopark into a debt trap, created uncertinity in real estate industrial sector, and many related issues. It is not long before, that Britishers came as traders and became our rulers.

4. People play with the sentiments of people and try to win seats in the name of caste, religion, and reservations.

5. 1/3rd of the members of the parliament are dacoits, MLA’s and MP’s who don’t keep their promises are allowed to continue in politics.
6. History is not a distillation of rumors but a play of personality. Film stars, Industralists etc. directly or indirectly , try to amend laws for their personal benefits. Death changes the course of history. Sanjay Gandhis death instantly altered the fortunes of the Indira Gandhi family and with that the dynasty destiny of India. If Madhav Rao Scindia and Rajesh Pilot had not died in their prime, would the Congress party be what it is today? If Indira and Rajiv had not been killed? What was the real cause of Pramod Mahajan and his secretarys death???
7. It is said that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. You can spend half an hour just naming the various scams in India……
8. Bandhs and Hartals, also effect the economy.

IRAQ: Was it actually ‘Helping Democracy’ as was the comment on the presence of US force during the elections in Iraq? Should a democratic country wage a war and invade other countries for establishing democracy there?

Was it right on US to hang Sadam Hussain?

The war against Iraq was not authorized by the UN Security Council. Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, said that the US war on Iraq was illegal.

PAKISTAN: If we look into the changing map of Democracy, it is one country, which was democratic earlier but not now when other countries are opting for democratic form of government.
In Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf led a military coup in October 1999.
He overthrew a democratically elected government and declared himself the ‘Chief executive’ of the country. Later he changed his designation to President and in 2002 held a referendum in the country that granted him a five year extension. In August 2002, he issued a ‘Legal Framework Order’ that amended the constitution of Pakistan. According to this order, the President can dismiss the national or provincial assemblies.
How did he come into power? Both the earlier prime ministers, Benizer Butto, and …….. where forced to leave the country.
Violence begets violence, and inflection of death in turn leads to death road…….

It is a matter of great shame that democratic principles are married by ghastly incidents like corruption at all levels especially in top bureaucracy, assassination of our great leaders etc….

Plutocracy and not democracy is seen to be ruling our country today though she is the biggest democracy in the world.

Remedies:
We do believe that ‘Prevention is better than cure’……… It is also said, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, if the doctor is handsome keep the apple away…

1. Equality: It does not mean giving everyone the same treatment, no matter what they need. It means giving everyone an equal opportunity to achieve whatever one is capable of. We need to ensure that its not plutocracy, ruling us. We need to beaware of candidates and parties who have unfair advantage over smaller parties and independents. So also those with criminal track records, dynasty rules should not be encouraged.


1. 49’O “In a particular constituency, if a voter has dislike to all of the candidates competing there,then he can show his dislike to all of them by registering for 49’O. There could be a provision in the ballot paper itself…or Steps for doing this : 1. while registering the name by the time of voting, convey the booth officials that “I want to go for 49’O”. 2. Register your signature in the 49’O form available there.
Now, if the number of 49’O count is larger than that of the winning candidates total vote count, then a re-election is called there.
some say this 49’O is available ever since 1960, but it is in no way conveyed to the people??
As long as the people are unaware of this one/or if there is nothing of that sort, the political parties are enjoying by winning the election and ditching our country.
To stop this disaster to continue further let us have such a powerful weapon which can be used for ensuring the welfare.

We Can Create History by increasing the polling percentage.. Just look at the statistics...
Its been just 55 % to 60 % people who have voted and What happened to rest ????
This rest 40 % can make big change and this will help in electing and selecting good leaders...

Lets Create History... Caste Your Vote.. Exercise your RIGHT..


2. On the 26th of January 1950 we entered a life of contradictions.
Ø In politics, equality – principle of one man one vote and one vote one value,and
Ø in social and economic life inequality- deny the principle of one man one value.
We need to provide equality in social and economic life. We cannot long live the life of this contradictions, it will put our political democracy in peril. The big difference in Indian democracy, as compared to democracy in the developed countries, is that in a) India it is the votes from the poorer people that count. We need to remove poverty and educate people.
India today seems to have two stories:
Ø About our realities: - This is the reality of inequality and illiteracy, of poverty and unemployment of scarcity and depravation. There are still a very many have nots in our country…
Ø About our potentials:- The potential to create economic, social, cultural and ecological wealth for all our citizens and for the world.
Towards this, Constitutions (Eighty-sixth Amendment) Act, 2002, sec 4 has inserted clause k in sec. 51A of part IV A. According to it, one of the fundamental duty of every citizen of India who is a parent or a guardian, is to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years. Education is made compulsory and free upto 14 years, and loans are provided for those willing to take up further education. Education brings about a change in the society. Teachers in schools can mave from teaching for exam to teaching for understanding. Undoubtedly true learning begins at home, but teaches to have a great role to play. To be educated, is to be aware, aware of oneself, ones realities, ones potential, and such awareness is only possible if we are aware of our environment, of how we are embodied in our social contest. This aware person, I feel, will manifest into a balanced human being, who is courageous and committed in spirit, in is curious and critical in thought and is creative and caring in action. Well our colleagues here, while discussing about education may highlight these points.
b. Courage, Courage, and courage, is what is needed, to rock the cradle, the corporate, and the world…As Gandhiji had once said, problem with we Indians are that we are cowards. Also everything is build on sacrifices, some go noticed, some go unnoticed. Some are rewarded, some are not.
c. At this juncture, the Grand Old Party (GOP) as the Congress is known, and even the other parties, needs not old, tried and tested hands but dynamic generation next which can electrify the voters by offering a new vision and an alternative.
d. We need to have a good, respected and influential, leader. If movies inspire people..like yuva 3 guys forming a new Political party…The journey of thousand miles begin with a single step….

3. A person should not discriminate people and ideologies. ‘Respect others, not only our faith’. This is a very important factor. Respect should be given to all cast, creed, religion or gender. So also to smaller parties, and independent candidates. Once there is respect, there would not be exploitation of sentiments. Mahatma Gandhi had, in his ‘My experiments with truth’, said, ‘Those who say religion has got nothing to do with politics, do not know what religion or politics is’. For him religion and politics was both Truth and Non Violence.
4. Basic Ethics of principles should be followed by every individual. ‘Wheteher men understands it or not, they are impelled by that power behind to become unselfish. That is the foundation of morality. It is the quinstance of all ethics, preached in any language, or any religion or by any prophet in the world. Be thou unselfish, not ‘I’ But thou- that is the background of ethical code.
5. Each individual should be conscious of the activities going on around him for the success of democracy and play an active part. Other than the voting right, people have certain other rights which should be properly exercised, like the right to equality, freedom, right against exploitation (how many or you have written to consumer grivences cell, when your pen is not working), freedom of religion (unlike countries like Saudi), cultural and Educational rights. Unless we do our duty, it is not right on our part just blaming others, for the non discharge of their duties.
6. Proper Transparancy : Since one of the basic feature of democracy is equal role in decision making, every citizen needs to have equal information, basic education, equal resouces, and a lot of commitment. Since this is not always practicable, decisions are taken by elected representative. Therefore these elected representative should keep up the trust of the people.
7. Criminals or with bad track records should not be allowed to contest elections. There should be law to call back people if found corrupt. Also Election commissioner should properly moniter the new parties coming up, and make the elections free and fair.

‘So let us then be up and living, with a heart for any race…Still achieving, still pursuing, learn to labour and to wait’

Hoping that in the future with the infusion of time, talent, imagination, money and manpower, India will emerge as a super power. It is a matter of great pride for all of us, to see, unity in diversity here, with many languages, religion and people, rich and varied heritage, geographical, and cultural differences.

To quote Rabindranatha Tagore: ‘Fear not the waves of the sea, but mind the leaks in your own vessels’ – If we were slaves it was not because British are devils but because we are weaklings’ Also ‘ It is not the parliamentary system that guarantees democracy in a state, but certain specific virtue in the citizens namely, courage to stand up for ones right, tolerance of opposition, moderation in passion and a sense of humour which refuses to take a politician at his face value. No people who lack these virtue can ever be democratic whatever their political institution’.

It is high time that we conclude, and therefore:

True, democracy cannot get us everything and is not the solution to all problems. But having accepted democracy as a form of governance, we the people or the citizens of India have the responsibility of safeguarding it.

India is shining and we are ready for it. Let us make our beloved motherland, the sun on earth. ‘Awake, Arise and stop not, till the goal is reached’……

Having put forth our views on the topic a broad analysis of democracy as a form of governance and how to solve the ills of democracy, we conclude with a prayer by Rabindranatha Tagore:

Where the mind is without fear, And the head is held high,
Where knowledge is free, where the world has not been broken up,
Into fragments by narrow domestic walls,
Where words come out from the depth of truth,
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection,
Where the clear stream of reason has not, lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit,
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever widening thought and action,
Into that heaven of freedom, my father….Let my country awake…..
Jai Hind!!!!!
Victory, Victory, Victory, to Democracy!!!!!

Appendix
National parties
i. Bahujan Samaj Party ("Majority Society Party", BSP, led by Mayawati)
ii. Bharatiya Janata Party ("Indian People's Party", BJP, led by Rajnath Singh)
iii. Communist Party of India (CPI, led by Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan)
iv. Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M), led by Prakash Karat)
v. Indian National Congress (INC, led by Sonia Gandhi)
vi. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP, led by Sharad Pawar)
State parties
Parties that have received certain amount of votes or seats in a state might be recognized as a state party by the Election Commission. Recognition as a state party given the party the possibilty to reserve a particular election symbol in the concerned state. A party might be recognized in more than one state. A party recognized in four states is automatically recognized as a national party. 50-60
Registered Unrecognized Parties
The large number of political parties are registered at the Election Commission, without having gained any recognition as National or State parties. In many cases registrations remain, although the party in question might have disbanded or merged into another formation several years ago.
Then there are many political parties in India are never registered at the Election Commission.

Coalitions


The following are coalitions of political parties in India.
Bangla Bachao Front - an opposition front in the 2001 West Bengal state elections. Was headed by All India Trinamool Congress.
Democratic Front - the governing coalition in Maharashtra.
Him Loktantrik Morcha - a now defunct 'third front' in Himachal Pradesh.
National Democratic Alliance - headed by the BJP.
National Front - headed by Janata Dal, governed India 1989-1991. Now defunct.
Left Democratic Front - Opposition front in Kerala, headed by CPI(M).
Left Front - headed by CPI(M).
Sikkim United Democratic Alliance - political front in Sikkim, including regional parties, BJP, INC.
Telangana Rashtra Sadhana Front - a front of pro-Telangana statehood fringe parties.
United Front - the 'third front' that governed India 1996-1998. Now defunct.
United Progressive Alliance - the current government coalition, headed by the INC.
[edit]
Political parties listed by relationship

Distribution of seats in the Fourteenth Lok Sabha
Indian National Congress – 145
Bharatiya Janata Party – 138
Communist Party of India (Marxist) – 43
Samajwadi Party – 36
Rashtriya Janata Dal – 24
Bahujan Samajwadi Party – 19
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – 16
Shiv Sena – 12
Biju Janata Dal – 11
Communist Party of India – 10
Nationalist Congress Party – 9
Janata Dal (United) – 8
Shiromani Akali Dal – 8
Pattali Makkal Katchi – 6
Telugu Desam Party – 5
Telangana Rashtra Samithi – 5
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha – 5
Lok Janashakti Party – 4
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam – 4
Independents – 5
Others – 30

QUESTION ANSWERS


1. ARE ELECTIONS TOO EXPENSIVE IN OUR COUNTRY?

A large amount of money is spent in conducting elections in India. For instance, the government spent about Rs. 1,300 crores in conduction Lok Sabha election in 2004. That works out to about Rs. 20 per person on the voters list. The amount spent by parties and candidates was more than what the government spent. Roughly speaking, the expenditure made by government, parties and candidates was around Rs. 3,000 crores or Rs. 50 per voter.
Some people say that elections are a burden on our people, that our poor country cannot afford to hold elections once every five year. Let us compare this expenditure with some other figures:
§ In 2005, our government decided to buy six nuclear submarines from France. Each submarine cost about Rs. 3,000 crore.
§ Delhi plans to host Commonwealth Games in 2010. The current estimate for its cost is about Rs. 2,000 crore.
Are the elections too expensive? You decide.


2. WHY IS THERE NO EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR CANDIDATES?
§ Educational qualifications are not relevant to all kinds of jobs. The relevant qualification for selection to the Indian Cricket team, for example is not the attainment of educational degrees but the ability to play cricket well. Similarly the relevant qualification for being an MLA or MP is the ability to understand peoples concerns, problems and to represent their interests. Whether they can do so or not is examined by lakhs of examiners-their voters after every five years.
§ Even if education was relevant, it should be left to the people to decide how much importance they give to educational qualifications.
§ In our country putting an educational qualification would go against the spirit of democracy for yet another reason. It would mean depriving a majority of the country’s citizens the right to contest elections. If, for example, a graduate degree like B.A., B.Com, or B. Sc was made compulsory for candidates, more than 60% of the citizens will become ineligible to contest election.


3. HOW RELIABLE IS THE CONSTITUTION?

The drafting of the constitution was done by an assembly of elected representative, representing the people of India, called the constituent assembly which had 299 members. It was chaired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar who prepared a draft constitution for discussion. Several rounds of thorough discussion took on draft constitution clause by clause. More than 2000 amendments were considered. The members deliberated for 114 days spread over three years. Every document presented and every word spoken in the constituent assembley has been recorded and preserved. These debates provide the rational behind every provision of the constitution. These are used to interpret the meaning of the constitution.


Some provisions of the constitutions have been questioned.


4. UNITED AND DIVIDED INDIA?

The political integration of India established a united nation for the first time in thousands of years from a plethora of princely states, colonial provinces and possessions. Despite partition, a new India united peoples of various geographic, economic, ethnic, linguistic and religious backgrounds. The process began in 1947, with the unification of 565 princely states through a critical series of political campaigns, sensitive diplomacy and military conflicts.
There were between 570 and 600 princely states.