Social activist Anna Hazare's new mission is to campaign for 'party-less democracy' in the country. Hazare, who has in the past led agitations on issues such as Right to Information and Lokpal, is now ready to take up the issue of the 'unconstitutionality' involved in parties or groups contesting elections in India.
“Nowhere does our Constitution talk about parties or groups contesting elections. The Constitution simply says that any Indian citizen who is at least 25 years of age can contest Lok Sabha elections, and any citizen who is at least 30 years of age can contest Rajya Sabha elections,” Hazare told The WEEK.
The veteran Gandhian argued that the Constitution does not permit elections to be contested as parties or organisations. He said the Constitution only provides for individuals contesting elections.
“On January 26, 1950, India became a people's republic. The people became sovereign. When that happened, the 10 or 12 parties that existed from pre-Independence days should have been scrapped. Mahatma Gandhi had asked Congress leaders to disperse the party,” said Hazare.
The anti-corruption activist, who led the 'India Against Corruption' movement in 2011-12, said till parties existed in the democratic system, true democracy was not possible. He said the present system of party-based polity had resulted in the rise in corrupt practices as also the use of money and muscle power in elections. The parties, he said, had also perpetuated politics of caste and religion, thereby dividing the society.
“I have had meetings with the Election Commission on the issue. The Election Commissioners agree with my contention, but say they cannot do anything on it,” he said.
Hazare will be leading a campaign to form a resolution on the need to have a party-less democracy, for which the backing of 6,47,000 people in 6,47,000 villages will be sought by October 2020. He said an Andolan will be mounted, which will focus on the Election Commission.
