GS paper 2
Syllabus: Parliament-structure, functioning and conduct of business and issues arising from it etc.
Directions: This is from an editorial piece. Can be used as an example for Intra party democracy
Context: The Congress is set for elections for the post of party president.
Legal ground on which elections can be mandated within political parties?
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- Article 324 of the Constitution, or Section 29(A) of the RPA 1951: Court said that the ECI cannot regulate internal structures, organizations or elections of the party.
- Constitution of party: The ECI expects political parties to abide by their constitution, a copy of which is submitted to the commission when the parties are registered.
- No interference: Commission cannot step in or criticize if anyone is elected unopposed.
Importance of internal elections:
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- Contest of ideas: Internal elections lead to meetings and contests of ideas.
- For example: in US elections, the selection of the candidate to be the presidential nominee is done via debate.
- Upward mobility: Internal elections are key for upward mobility.
- Contest of ideas: Internal elections lead to meetings and contests of ideas.
What will State funding of Political parties do?
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- Money from corporates: Stop parties from taking money from the corporates.
- No of votes: Political parties will receive money as per the number of votes polled.
- Law Commission Report 1999-strongly recommended that there should be a mechanism for it.
Should there be new laws making organizational elections mandatory?
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- New interpretations: There is a need for a new interpretation and some bold moves from the ECI re-interpreting the existing laws, like:
- Political parties should hold organizational elections regularly.
- The parties are required to inform the ECI about changes in their office-bearers and addresses.
- They are required to submit a document of expenditure incurred during elections and in the non-election period.
- New interpretations: There is a need for a new interpretation and some bold moves from the ECI re-interpreting the existing laws, like:
Insta Links:
Registered Unrecognized Political Parties (RUPPs)
Mains Links:
Q. On what grounds a people’s representative can be disqualified under the Representation of People Act, 1951? Also, mention the remedies available to such a person against his disqualification. (UPSC 2019)
Prelims Links:
- ECI
- RPA
- Article 324
- RUPPs
A political party in a state is considered Recognised if:
- Secures at least 6% of the valid vote & wins at least 2 seats in an Assembly General Election.
- Secures at least 3% of the total valid vote in an Assembly or a Lok Sabha General Election.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below;
a. 1 only
b. 2 only
c. Both 1 and 2
d. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans: (a)
Justification:
State recognised political party:
- Secure at least 6% of the valid vote & win at least 2 seats in an Assembly General Election
- Secure at least 6% of the valid vote & win at least 1 seat in a Lok Sabha General Election
- Win at least 3% of the seats or at least 3 seats, whichever is more, in an Assembly General Election
- Win at least 1 out of every 25 seats from a state in a Lok Sabha General Election
- Secure at least 8% of the total valid vote in an Assembly or a Lok Sabha General Election
