Page 67 - Leap of Faith inside pages with cover (1)

Democracy Marches Ahead Chapter 3

Act, 1988 (Act 1 of 1989). The same was incorporated as Yet, it was the party system, which triggered the demand
Sec on 29A in the Representa on of the People Act, 1951 from civil society members for electoral reforms. C.
authorising Elec on Commission of India to register Rajagopalachari (1878-1972), statesman and scholar in a
associa ons and bodies as poli cal par es. series of ar cles wri en between 1957 and 1970

Despite the absence of any specific statute/rule on the severely cri cised the abuse of money power in
subject of elec on symbols, Elec on Commission of India elec ons. “Ambi ous poli cians find themselves at the
had acted with firmness and pragma sm ahead of the First mercy of par es; and par es are at the mercy of
General Elec ons. It developed a mechanism to categorise financers”, wrote Rajaji on Republic Day, 1957. He
na onal, state and recognised poli cal par es long before maintained that money power eroded the level playing
the rules on subject viz. Elec on Symbols (Reserva on and field in poli cs. The expensiveness of the elec ons stood
Allotment) Order, 1968 were put into print. in the way of “free enterprise” in poli cs.

An election meeting in Delhi, 1952

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