14.Ombudsman Authority

For Politicians, before elections the Election Commission can be the Investigating Authority and after the elections the LOKPAL / LOKAYUKTA. However, there is a need to prevent such an Authority from becoming another centre of power and we hence, need to find ways to do so. Perhaps by making such an Authority a three- member body as is done for the Election Commission, or a Fast Track Court system on the lines of the Armed ForcesTribunal could be the solution.

15.Elections Expenses and Funding

Election funding can in no way incentivize the politician to address the genuine or otherwise issues of the people. Election funding is not a good idea. Also, if election funding, if any, is to be determined after the result of an election it is meaningless.

Trying to control expenses for elections is not a practical or feasible effort and only leads to more black / unaccounted money and wrong doings.

State funding of all election expenses is also, not an answer, as those who have access to additional funds will still find ways to use them. What may perhaps be required is State funding providing for some reasonably equal time on the relevant Local/State media and for equitable column space in the Local / State Newspapers, preferably after a threshold amount is first declared and spent by each candidate so as to eliminate frivolous candidates. Also, the candidates who do not get at least a minimum percentage of the vote (say five, or even ten percent) not only lose their deposit but will either not be considered for such media support and would need to pay or repay such amounts. Such media coverage could be limited to Door-Darshan TV and local papers as appropriate. Of course, the wide use of smartphones and easy accessibility to social media thereon may even do away with the rationale for any such media support.

As the candidate standing for an election is seeking the votes of his/her Constituency members, it should be left to him / her to raise support, in terms of money or effort or time, to be contributed by the Constituency members. If he / she can raise the money from his / her supporters and clearly show both the income and expenditure accounts as per laid down rules, it does not behove the State, or his / her adversaries, to cry foul and make unfounded allegations of inducement or coercion or buying of votes. To make it difficult for special interests to influence the candidate, all receipts above a certain sum, laid down by the Election Commission (say Rs. 1000/-), must be required to be properly identified via Aadhaar and comprehensively accounted for. A prospective candidate who is unable to raise even such minimum necessary support from his/her constituents is demonstrably not the right candidate to stand for election from that Constituency.

Accounts of all the political parties must be made transparent and auditable, with donors above Rs. I, 000/- clearly identified (Aadhaar) and Registration or PAN Number for Corporates or Funds and donation limits, especially for corporate donations, based at a level that can reasonably be considered as not such as to unduly influence the future decisions of the candidate, if elected, beyond the basic and acceptable condition that an elected politician has an obligation to his supporters, as long as such support is transparent and declarable. (Say a ‘Limit of upto three to five times the annual basic salary
applicable to the post to which he/ she is elected, for e.g.: if an MP draws an annual salary of say Rs. 33 lakhs then the limit for such MP for any donation received from a single person or Company or Firm should not exceed say five times that or Rs. 1.65 Cr.). Donors to Party Funds should also, be iden- tifiable. The present Electoral Bond Scheme, as modified by the decision of the Supreme Court, still needs further revisions for better transparency, while still protecting the donor and also, as it allows foreign donors.

As the US economist Steven Levitt writes – most people would agree that in politics money buys elections and that far too much money is spent on political campaigns. Indeed, election data shows that the candidate who spends more money in a campaign usually wins. But is money the cause of victory? Just because two things are co – related does not mean that one causes the other. It simply means that a relationship exists but tells you nothing about the direction of the relationship. Does X cause Y or Y cause X or perhaps Z causes both X and Y.

Contributions to election campaigns can be expected only when it is considered that money will influence the outcome, or if one is sure of the winner. Long shots and expected losers won’t receive any worthwhile contributions. The greater the voter appeal of a candidate the more money and volunteer effort he/ she can be expected to raise or receive and then seem to win easily. So, which is more crucial, voter appeal or finances? In all close races, studies have shown that money spent by a candidate hardly matters,what does is who the candidate is and how attractive he/she is to the voters. The first electoral victory of the Aam Admi Party and its leader Arvind Kejriwal in the earlier elections in New Delhi proves the point.

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