Q- Here are some reports if malpractices in Indian elections. Identify what the problem in each case is. What should be done to correct the situation?
(a) Following the announcement of the elections, the minister promised to provide financial aid to reopen the closed sugar mill.
(b) Opposition parties alleged that their statements and campaign was not given due attention in Doordarshan and All India Radio.
(c) An inquiry by the Election Commissioner showed that electoral rolls of a state contain names of 20 lakh fake voters.
(d) The hoodlums of a political party were moving with gums, physically preventing supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of other parties.
Answer-
(a) The minister is trying to entice voters by promising them the use of government money to re-open a sugar mill. This is forbidden because as per the code of conduct during elections, ministers shall not make promises of providing facilities to public. The Election Commissioner should take actions against it.
(b)Here the main problem is the misuse of government facilities to give undue advantages to ruling party. All the political parties should have equal time and attention in media and radios. If this is done so Election Commissioner should take action against it.
(c) To prevent fake voting and multiple voting the election commissioner should have to put an enquiry as to how this happened and form new electoral rolls with genuine voters.
(d) This statements shows the use of criminals and threats to influence votes in elections. The Election Commissioner can use police or paramilitary forces to assure protection for voters and other political parties.