Here are some reports of 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 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 Commission showed that electoral rolls of a state contain name of 20 lakh fake voters.
(d) The hoodlums of a political party were moving with guns, physically preventing supporters of other political parties to meet the voters and attacking meetings of other parties.
(a) After the announcement of the election no minister or party can announce any benefit to any section of society as doing this is against the electoral code of conduct. Thus, the first statement is an electoral malpractice. Election Commission shall immediately issue a show cause notice and disallow the aid if a relevant cause is not shown in the government’s response.
(b) In this case the government of our country must issue a statement to Doordarshan and All India Radio to give due attention in opposition parties election campaign.
(c) This is a very serious problem for any democratic country as due to this there would not be fair elections and the government can’t be called the government of people. For this, the Election Commission should order to make another voters list of the genuine voters. Also, proper legal action needs to be taken against those who have led to this kind of unlawful activity.
(d) These kinds of activities are against the democratic principles of our country. Election Commission should take coordinate with local police and get the weapons confiscated while also getting the miscreants arrested if required.