Page 21 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Introduction

century. The industry, acumen and experience of the
Election Commission has placed India firmly on the
electoral map of the world. A recent recognition (2022) is
India becoming a leading nation in the Democracy Cohort
for Electoral Integrity set up under the ‘Summit for
Democracy’, initiated by the President of the United States
of America, and in which India is a participating nation. India
preserved her Parliamentary democracy with success when
it was under strain worldwide during the Cold War and
nothing could be stated with certainty about its global
prospects. This India had achieved on her own strength, as
there was nothing called multilateral democracy promotion
or electoral assistance programme in those days.
Mark of Pride
With the conclusion of the Cold War, there came a sudden recast to include Constitutional and statutory aspects of
spate in the number of democracies like in Eastern Europe general electoral reforms. The chapter Elections During
and Sub Saharan Africa. The euphoria over democratisation
Pandemic has been rewritten to include the elections to
has sobered over the last thirty years. The number of the five states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand and
democracies around the world in 2021 (according to Uttar Pradesh. Other chapters have been touched upon
International IDEA Global State of Democracy, 2022) stood for improvement in some way or the other.
at 104. The number is subject to fluctuation, due to
political reforms and reversion in the respective countries. With a number of positive responses to the first edition, a
There is clearly a need for new fillip to democracy. Much of it few suggestions were also received. These have been
belongs to foreign policy domain, which is outside the incorporated to the best of our abilities. For instance, one
mandate of the Election Commission. The Election suggestion was on including a passage on indelible ink,
Commission will, however, continue to contribute to which has been done.
strengthening electoral democracy like capacity building, The book depends upon a multiplicity of sources including
manpower training etc., whenever its services will be books, government reports, Election Commission of
requested. One can repose faith that values of democracy India's reports, website and documents, Parliamentary
will ultimately triumph. debates and documents etc., that are available in public
domain. Readers are advised to refer to Election
The Second Edition of ‘Leap of Faith: Journey of Indian
Commission of India's website for any possibly correction
Elections’ refines and expands the narrative provided in
in statistics at a future date.
the original edition (2022). Three new chapters like
Electing the President and Vice President, Technology as Dr. Rajendra Prasad's words still ring clear for the
Enabler and Spotlight on Recent Elections have been electorate, “You have the power of gods, and let me hope
added. An existing chapter on Electoral Reforms has been you would use it like gods.”

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