A CRISIS OF MORALITY: MONEY POWER, MUSCLE POWER, AND INDIAN ELECTIONS

Abstract [English]

One of the biggest challenges facing Indian democracy is the crisis of money power, muscle power, and morality in the electoral process. This research paper presents an in-depth analysis of electoral history from independence to December 2020, using the latest available data (ADR report) from the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 233 (43%) of the 539 newly elected MPs in 2019 have criminal cases registered against them, including 159 (29%) for serious offenses. This figure has risen from 23% in 2004 to 43% in 2019. Furthermore, a significant number of cases of crimes against women were found among MPs. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections proved to be the most expensive ever in terms of financial power. The Centre for Media Studies (CMS) estimates that the total expenditure reached approximately ₹55,000 to ₹60,000 crore. The Electoral Bonds Scheme (2018) marked the first step towards institutionalizing this exchange. The form of muscle power has evolved from the booth capturing of the 1980s and 90s to today's "candidate-criminal" narrative. The ethical crisis is evident in fake news, voter buying, Model Code of Conduct violations, and concealment of candidates' backgrounds. The research paper cites key Supreme Court judgments (Public Interest Foundation, 2018; Rambabu Singh Thakur, 2020) and suggests reforms such as disqualification on charge sheets in serious criminal cases, strict monitoring of election expenditure, state funding of elections, and misinformation control on digital platforms. The study argues that if money and muscle power are not curbed, the roots of democracy will weaken. The proposed reforms will make the electoral process more transparent, inclusive, and ethical. The research is based on primary (ADR, ECI data, Supreme Court judgments) and secondary sources and provides practical insights for policymakers, scholars, and civil society.