Enhancing Inner-Party Democracy: Steps and Strategies

The dynamics of a robust democracy are not confined solely to the electoral process that takes place every few years. They extend deep into the internal workings of political parties, which serve as the building blocks of any democratic system. Internal elections within political parties are a critical component that not only reflects the party's commitment to democratic principles but also shapes the nature of governance and representation they provide to the citizens. However, the Indian political landscape has witnessed a concerning lack of internal elections and an increasing trend towards non-democratic and autocratic tendencies within parties. This article delves into the various facets of this issue, analyzes its reasons, and proposes viable solutions to strengthen India's democratic fabric.

The Landscape of Indian Political Parties

Indian political parties can be broadly classified into three types based on their organizational structure and influence:

1. Cadre-based parties: These parties are founded on clear ideological principles and possess an organized structure aimed at achieving these goals. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist parties are prime examples of this category.
2. Parties with core ideals and diverse opinions: The Indian National Congress(INC) is a prime example of a party with core ideals but a loose association of individuals with differing opinions.
3. Parties with social or regional clout: Some parties wield influence over specific sections of society or particular regions. Examples include the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party and Apna Dal for specific communities, and regional parties like the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party.

The Current Quandary: Lack of Internal Elections

In recent times, the lack of internal elections in many Indian political parties has raised concerns over the democratic functioning of these entities. Several factors contribute to this state of affairs:

1. Dominance of Charismatic Individuals and Families: Many parties are dominated by charismatic leaders or families, leading to a concentration of power and limited opportunities for internal contestation.
2. Opaque Financing Structures: The opaque financing of political parties hampers transparency and accountability, contributing to a lack of internal democracy.
3. Centralized Control and High Command Culture: The dominance of a single individual or family within the party structure has led to centralized control, diminishing the role of internal elections in decision-making.
4. Inadequate Competition for Leadership Posts: The scarcity of genuine competition for leadership positions within parties curtails the prospects of democratic internal functioning. As seen in contest of election for post of INC president.
5. Fear of Disunity: Parties often fear that internal contests could breed disunity, considering the zero-sum nature of electoral politics.
6. Legal and Statutory Gaps: The absence of a legal mandate for internal elections, combined with Election Commission guidelines lacking enforcement power, undermines the democratic essence of parties.
7. Nomination and Consensus Methods: The practice of selecting party leaders through nominations and consensus further diminishes the importance of internal elections.
8. Constitutional Void: Phrase “political party” was nowhere mentioned in the Indian Constitution. Anti-defection law, 1985 defined political party for the first time.
9. Legislative Gap:?India is a party-led democracy. But in India, candidates are subject to rules?and regulations more than political parties. And Election Commission is lenient to mandate?its executive guidelines for periodical internal elections.
10. Court observed that Article 324 of the Constitution, or Section 29(A) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951?did not provide ECI the power to regulate internal structures, organisations or elections of the party

Addressing the Challenges and Way Forward to Strengthen Democracy

To fortify the democratic fabric of Indian political parties, a multi-pronged approach is needed:

1. Inception of party constitution for internal regulation of political parties:?Political parties should?abide by their own constitution.
2. State funding of political parties:?Former Chief Election Commissioner of India S.Y. Quraishi proposed that parties should receive money as per the number of votes polled for them. For example, the state can pay political parties Rs.100 for each vote polled in their favor.?
3. Ensure electoral transparency:?EC should ensure that parties must submit?documents of expenditure incurred during elections and in the non-election period.
4. Attaching cost to no-compliance of EC orders?such as regular?organisational elections, in case parties conceal changes in office-bearers and addresses from EC. Election Commision of India should utilize its executive power to ensure organizational elections as happened during T.N.Seshan’s tenure.
5. Parties should establish a balance between divisiveness of election and high command culture so that in the long run it does not weaken the party.

Indian democracy is not solely a function of electoral contests; it thrives within the internal workings of political parties. The absence of internal elections has given rise to non-democratic tendencies, which threaten the essence of our democratic structure. By institutionalizing internal elections, parties can ensure upward mobility, idea contestation, and true representation of diverse voices. A democratic society is built from the ground up, and internal elections within political parties are the cornerstone upon which a strong and vibrant democracy stands. It is imperative that Indian political parties heed this call and embrace a culture of internal democracy to truly serve the interests of the people they represent.

References:

1. The Hindu: Internal Democracy (https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/for-internal-democracy-the-hindu-editorial-on-election-commission-of-india-rejecting-notion-of-leader-for-life-in-political-parties/article65922974.ece)
2. The Hindu: Should the ECI insist on inner-party elections?(https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/should-the-eci-insist-on-inner-party-elections/article65922283.ece)