Should Election Commission ensure internal democracy in political parties?
India’s multi-party democracy thrives on diversity but often sees political parties driven by individual charisma rather than internal democracy. Despite their role in upholding the nation’s democratic framework, many parties struggle to maintain democratic structures. Can the Election Commission (EC) ensure these organisations practice internal democracy? Former Chief Election Commissioner O.P. Rawat and PRS Legislative Research president M.R. Madhavan discuss this question with Sreeparna Chakrabarty. Edited excerpts:The EC has been thinking of nudging political parties on the issue of internal democracy. But how can they do it?O.P. Rawat: The EC is the registering authority for all the political parties in our country. As such, the EC monitors whether they are functioning according to th...