The Election Commission of India (ECI) initiated nine working groups to extract the learnings from the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The aim was to suggest improvements in various areas, using the gained experience. A whopping 337 recommendations were proposed by these groups, out of which 300 have been processed and disposed of till now.
Recommendations Regarding Candidates
The key recommendation revolves around the drafting of legal provisions to disqualify candidates for crimes carrying a minimum punishment period of five years on framing of charges rather than conviction. Currently, under Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act (RPA), disqualification occurs from the date of conviction and extends for a further six years post-release. The listed offences leading to disqualification include import or export of banned goods, adulteration of food drugs, practising untouchability, corruption, terrorist acts, and more. The team also proposed that the punishment for filing false affidavits should be escalated from six months to over two years. Permanent disqualification was suggested for those found guilty of corruption, disloyalty, and heinous crimes. Additionally, it was recommended that a candidate contesting a different election must resign from the current seat.
Suggestions for Election Process
On the front of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), suggestions included empowering the Commission to issue notice to a party for vital corrections in its manifesto. The group also proposed the establishment of courts to judge electoral offences and the prohibition of using government designations for political publicity. To shorten the election process duration, factors like weather, exam schedules, and festivals in each state should be mapped under the community legal demographic profiling and election time zones system. This could aid in effective poll scheduling. Further, they recommended standardisation of Electors’ Photo Identity Card numbers and establishment of fast-track courts for speedy resolution of expenditure-related disputes.
| Recommendation Categories | Number of Recommendations | Disposed Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Candidates | 100 | 90 |
| Election Process | 150 | 137 |
| Political Parties | 87 | 73 |
Proposals for Political Parties
A significant recommendation was to draft a comprehensive bill addressing registration, recognition, and funding of political parties. A suggestion to increase the number of members required for party registration from 100 to 1,000 was put forth. Also, parties not fielding any candidate in elections should be de-registered, it was suggested. Legal provisions should be crafted to regulate party funding, as per the working groups.