What is worrying is that those in power use the police for electoral gain. It has been coming down since 1991. Recent elections have by and large been peaceful. Most violence, as in Bihar, has been perpetrated by ideology-driven groups like naxalites. Other instances are insurgency-driven, as in Kashmir and the northeastern states.
Money power is a big worry.
It disturbs the true spirit of democracy. Unfortunately, the proviso allows friends and the party unlimited expenditure. Both the Supreme Court and we have objected to this and asked for reform. But the major parties are loath to bring about change. In the 1998 parliament there were only 40 women MPs in a 543-member lower house.