RJD, once a prominent representative of Mandal politics, now finds itself in a political era where welfare, good governance, and new aspirations are overshadowing old caste equations.
Without a Congress revival, there can be no challenge to the BJP pan-nationally. Modi’s party is growing, and almost entirely at the cost of the Congress.
1. This news report underscores huge spending on elections. Hence we need to implement election law reforms. 2. What are election law reforms which we citizens desire to be implemented? (a) First is compulsory audit of accounts of all, political parties by a professionally qualified auditor. Without yearly audit and a clean report by the auditor no political party should be allowed to contest election. (b) Curbs on use of black money in elections. At present the Election Commission of India (ECI) has no right to examine declarations of expenses submitted by candidates contesting elections. Hence it is necessary to empower ECI about scrutiny of expenses. (c) Third reform is about declaration of assets by individuals who contest elections. Such declarations should be supported by statements of income as per Income Tax Returns, whenever possible. It is also desirable that ECI is empowered to scrutinise the declarations of wealth/assets and income. At present it merely takes such declarations on record and does no scrutiny. 3. Lastly, it would be necessary to ensure that all legal cases pending against ministers, MLAs, MPs and all politicians should be tried in Special Fast Track Courts on a top priority basis.
1. This news report underscores huge spending on elections. Hence we need to implement election law reforms. 2. What are election law reforms which we citizens desire to be implemented? (a) First is compulsory audit of accounts of all, political parties by a professionally qualified auditor. Without yearly audit and a clean report by the auditor no political party should be allowed to contest election. (b) Curbs on use of black money in elections. At present the Election Commission of India (ECI) has no right to examine declarations of expenses submitted by candidates contesting elections. Hence it is necessary to empower ECI about scrutiny of expenses. (c) Third reform is about declaration of assets by individuals who contest elections. Such declarations should be supported by statements of income as per Income Tax Returns, whenever possible. It is also desirable that ECI is empowered to scrutinise the declarations of wealth/assets and income. At present it merely takes such declarations on record and does no scrutiny. 3. Lastly, it would be necessary to ensure that all legal cases pending against ministers, MLAs, MPs and all politicians should be tried in Special Fast Track Courts on a top priority basis.