Table of Contents
The Context- As the political parties are the most significant part of the democratic system in India, it is expected that they themselves function on a democratic basis. Hence, internal elections in parties are emphasized. However, the appointment of a “Permanent President” by a political party in Andhra Pradesh recently, has reignited the debate on the need for mandatory internal elections in the Indian political parties. This article examines this issue in detail.
LEGAL PROVISION FOR INTERNAL PARTY ELECTION IN INDIA
Presently, there is no statutory backing for internal democratic regulation of political parties in India, and the only governing provision is under Section 29A of the Representation of the Peoples’ Act, 1951. All rules and regulations apply more to candidates than to political parties in India.
However, Political parties in their constitution have elaborate provisions on Internal Party elections of which some can be cited as:
Ø Indian National Congress- Its constitution says that each state has a Pradesh Congress Committee. No office bearer at the block or district level can hold the position for more than two consecutive terms, but this structure does not apply to the state or national level.
Ø Bahujan Samaj Party- Its constitution says that the national president is elected by vote or by consensus among delegates. The national president then nominates other office bearers of the Central Executive Committee, which leads the party. The president’s power is absolute.
Ø Communist Party of India- Its constitution says that members of the central committee, the highest authority of the party, elect delegates to the Polit bureau. The general secretary is part of the Polit bureau. The party has a system of checks and balances through which the general secretary is not given unmitigated power. There are elections for all posts every three years.
NECESSITY TO PROMOTE INTERNAL PARTY DEMOCRACY
On a pragmatic level, the parties using internally democratic procedures are likely to select more capable and appealing leaders, have more responsive policies, and, as a result, enjoy greater electoral success. Moreover, the political parties “practice what they preach,” in the sense of using internally democratic procedures for their deliberation and decisions, strengthening democratic culture generally. So, there is a necessity to promote Internal Party Democracy as:
REDUCE TRUST DEFICIT AND HERO WORSHIP
Inner-party democracy enhances the ‘visibility’ of fair and transparent procedures in selecting leaders within political parties which counters a general trust deficit amongst the public. In the absence of such a provision, parties often tend to be centered around charismatic figures which can foster blind hero worship as one individual becomes central to the power, vision, and authority in the party’s agenda.
INCLUSIVE REPRESENTATION
The opaque nature of selecting party candidates also runs the risk of excluding marginalized groups. A transparent process of election will allow proper ticket distribution and candidate selection. The selection would not be based on the whims of a few powerful leaders in the party but will represent the choice of the larger party.
DECENTRALIZATION AND PARTICIPATION.
Election at each level be it at the district or local level allows the creation of power centers at different levels. Further, providing autonomy may lead to more creative, innovative, and responsive programs by allowing local experimentation.
DECLINE IN CRIMINALIZATION OF POLITICS
Transparency deficit in selecting candidates within political parties becomes a breeding ground for criminalization in Indian politics. According to data released by the ADR, the 17th Lok Sabha holds the infamous record of 43% of members facing criminal charges against them.
COUNTERS FACTIONALISM
Democratizing political parties can also work as a safety valve against factionalism and splits into parties. Various incidents of internal party rivalry have culminated in splits, for instance, the split in Shiv Sena owing to differences between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.
HOW DEMOCRATIZATION OF PARTIES ENRICH THE DEMOCRACY MATRIX?
The political parties are instrumental in carrying out free and fair elections. By virtue of their near monopoly in contesting elections, they determine the nature of (democratic) government. There are two types of democracy, procedural and substantive democracy. The first one focuses on the processes and procedures like conducting free and fair elections, whereas the second one is more focused on bringing socio-economic change. The internal organization structure of parties would determine the way it participates in both these aspects of democracy. Activities like campaigns, canvassing, and grievance redressal mechanisms of political parties have huge implications for society at large.
A political party based on democratic lines would choose the candidate in the most transparent manner by conducting elections. It would select those candidates who are not only qualified but also those who showcase democratic ethos. It means a government that is formed on democratic credentials will act democratically. The laws and policies formulated by such a government would reflect democratic ideals of freedom, equality, and justice. In India, where the government touches every aspect of social life and follows individuals from cradle to grave, it is expected that the government will work to enhance and enrich democracy in society.
However, the political parties structured on the basis of favoritism, caste, and communal lines, will end up polarizing society. When such political parties form the government, their actions eventually lead to a democratic deficit. Hence, political parties organized on democratic lines through internal elections can have a salutary effect on the institutions(broadest sense of the term) of the country. As politics and political institutions influence society, economy, administration, culture, and the people at large, their nature of working will ultimately decide whether democracy becomes a way of life.
PERSPECTIVE ON HOLDING INTERNAL PARTY ELECTION AS A CHALLENGE
‘One reason for the relative neglect of the internal life of political parties is that these organizations have long been commonly regarded in liberal theory as private associations, which should be entitled to compete freely in the electoral marketplace and govern their own internal structures and processes. Any legal regulation by the state, or any outside intervention by international agencies, was regarded in this view as potentially harmful by either distorting or even suppressing pluralist party competition with a country.’
WHY DO THE PARTIES RESIST INTERNAL PARTY ELECTIONS?
DYNASTY POLITICS
- The lack of intra-party democracy has contributed to the growing nepotism in political parties. With senior party leaders fielding their kin in elections, succession plans for “family” constituencies are being put in place.
CENTRALIZED STRUCTURE OF POLITICAL PARTIES
- The centralized mode of functioning of the political parties and the stringent anti-defection law of 1985 deters party legislators from voting in the national and state legislatures according to their individual preferences.
LACK OF LAW
- Currently, there is no express provision for internal democratic regulation of political parties in India and the only governing law is provided by Section 29A of the Representation of the Peoples’ Act, 1951 which provides for registration of political parties with the ECI. However, ECI does not have any statutory power to enforce internal democracy in parties or to mandate elections.
PERSONALITY CULT
- There is a tendency of hero worship in people and many times a leader takes over the party and builds his own coterie, ending all forms of intra-party democracy.
EASY TO SUBVERT INTERNAL ELECTIONS
- The ability of existing repositories of power to subvert internal institutional processes to consolidate power and maintain the status quo is unquestionable.
GLOBAL SCENARIO-BEST PRACTICES
● Germany’s intra-party democracy regulations- They were originally enacted to respond to international political pressure to convince the world of the country’s objection to fascism and totalitarianism of all sorts. This resulted in regulations on intra-party democracy regarding party registration, candidate selection, and leadership elections which are present still today.
● In Finland, both political elites, as well as the public, have continuously acknowledged the regulations on candidate selection, leadership elections, and democratic internal rules promoting Intra Party Democracy.
THE WAY FORWARD
- Political parties shall take appropriate steps to ensure the holding of elections at all levels. The recently concluded Presidential election in the Congress party can work as a template for other parties(See the box below)
CONGRESS PARTY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PROCESS
The Central Election Authority (CEA) of the Congress, recruited a massive team of 943 returning officers from within the party for overseeing the process of choosing the delegate from each block unit. Any of them could choose to contest for the post of president by getting the support of 10 other delegates. Voting is through a secret paper ballot under a rank-choice voting system. This mammoth exercise is only possible due to the institutional structure of the CEA, the constitutionally prescribed election rules, and an experienced team of nearly a thousand people working on it for over a year.
- Exploring options for providing such powers to the Election Commission of India and/or carrying out amendments in the RPA to bring meaningful internal democracy in the working of the political parties.
- The Anti-Defection Act of 1985 requires the party legislators to act according to the party whip which is decided by the diktats of the highest party leadership. One way to democratize political parties is to promote intra-party dissent.
THE CONCLUSION: Those who emphasize the participatory aspects of democracy place the most value on intra-party democracy as an end in itself. They see parties not primarily as intermediaries, but rather as incubators that nurture citizens’ political competence. Be that the case may be, the idea of mandatory internal elections in parties may require wider debate on the constitutional, legal, administrative and logistical challenges.
Mains Practice Questions:
Q.1 Discuss the desirability of giving statutory status to Internal elections in political parties for enriching democracy in India.
Q.2 ‘Intra party democracy promotes accountability, inclusivity, and counter factionalism’. Comment.
Q.3. Can the vicious cycle of gender inequality be solved by engendering Intra Party Democracy? Analyze your view.
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