Electoral Bonds: India’s Democracy on sale
Channel: Peoples Dispatch
Date: 30/11/2019

Last week, a series of investigative reports revealed that the far-right government of Narendra Modi had opened windows for the purchase of electoral bonds to fund political parties on six occasions, two more than the permitted number. This happened in two consecutive years. The government also relaxed rules and permitted the cashing of many of these bonds after the time limit.

This revelation caused an uproar as the government was accused of breaking the law. It also led to a fresh focus on the electoral bonds system itself. This system which was inaugurated in 2018 has been severely criticised by the left and other sections of the opposition. It has also received flak from key institutions in India. The critics of this system point out that it legitimises the role of big money in elections and destroys any possibility of transparency in political funding. Let’s look at this system and how it is subverting democracy in India.