Explain some reforms to strengthen the working of political parties
Answers
Anti defection law
Reduction in the influence of money
It is important for a candidate to file an affidavit giving details of his property and eliminate cases pending against him/ her.
Election Commission has made it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational elections and file their income tax returns
A law is strictly advisable to make or regulate the internal affairs of poltical parties
It should be made mandatory for political parties to give a minimum number of tickets, about one-third, to women candidates.
Some reforms to strengthen the working of political parties:-
(i) The Constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. Now, the law syas that if any MLA or MP changes parties, he or she will lose the seat in the legislature. This new law has helped bring defection down. At the same time this has made any dissent even more difficult.
(ii) The Supreme Court of India has made it mandatory for every candidate who contests elections to file an affidavit giving details of his property and criminalcase pending against him. The new system has made a lot of information available to the public.
(iii) The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organisational election and file their income tax returns.