The issue of internal democracy within political parties is set to be addressed by the Election Commission. This comes as a response to concerns over the lack of intra-party democracy in many parties leading to them becoming closed autocratic structures. Such a situation impacts the constitutional rights of citizens to have equal political opportunities to participate in politics and contest elections.
Need for Internal Party Democracy
There are various reasons why internal party democracy is crucial in a democratic nation.
Representation: When there is no intra-party democracy, it can contribute to political parties becoming autocratic structures, which negatively impact citizens’ constitutional rights to equal political opportunity.
Less Factionalism: Leaders with strong grassroots connections are less likely to be side-lined, leading to less factionalism and party division.
Transparency: A transparent party structure with clear processes allows for proper ticket distribution and candidate selection. The choices made represent the larger party rather than a few powerful individuals.
Accountability: A democratic party is accountable to its members, and it must accept responsibility for its shortcomings or risk election loss in the next cycle.
Decentralising Power: Through state and local body units within a party, different power centres can be created at various levels. With decision making happening at the ground level, power becomes decentralised.
Criminalisation of Politics: The absence of well-defined processes for ticket distribution before elections often leads to candidates with criminal backgrounds being given tickets based on their perceived ‘winnability’.
Reasons for Lack of Intra-Party Democracy
Certain factors have contributed to the lack of intra-party democracy.
Dynasty Politics: Nepotism’s growth in political parties has been facilitated by the lack of intra-party democracy. Senior leaders tend to field their relatives, setting up succession plans for ‘family’ constituencies.
Centralised Structure of Political Parties: Centralised functioning of political parties and the stringent anti-defection law deter legislators from voting according to their individual preferences in national and state legislatures.
Lack of Law: No express provisions exist currently for internal democratic regulation of political parties in India. The governing law is provided by Section 29A of the Representation of Peoples’ Act, 1951, which provides for party registration with the ECI. However, ECI does not have any statutory power to enforce internal democracy in parties or mandate elections.
Personality cult: A leader’s takeover of a party often leads to a hero worship culture that hinders any form of intra-party democracy.
Direction of the Election Commission on Internal Democracy
The Election Commission has put forth certain directives regarding internal party democracy.
Representation of People Act, 1951: Under this Act, guidelines have been issued reminding parties to conduct elections and ensure leadership renewal every five years.
Power of De-registration of Political Parties: While the commission has previously requested the law ministry for the power to deregister political parties, implementation has not taken place.
No Permanent President for a Party: ECI has rejected the idea of a permanent president for parties, arguing that it is inherently anti-democratic.
Way Forward
Going forward, there are several steps the ECI could take towards ensuring internal democracy in political parties. These include holding organizational elections regularly, informing ECI about changes in office bearers and addresses, submitting election and non-election period expenditure documents, taking steps to guarantee elections at all levels, and holding national and state-level elections with nominated observers present. There must also be provisions to inquire into allegations of non-compliance with election requirements. Finally, the ECI should have the penal power to deregister a party until free and fair elections within the party are conducted.
