Why not organize an examination for contesting all kinds of elections in the country and their character should be properly verified for entering politics like government jobs? What is the harm in having a common political test on a smaller scale and the Indian Political Service exam for MPs? After all, if there is a government job and politics, then only service to the country? Why should politicians be given special powers?

Can a charge-sheeted person become an IAS officer? Can he hold any civil service posts? Then why should politicians be given this undue privilege which is against the very spirit of our democracy? Changes in this matter can only be brought about by the Parliament. Only then the increasing criminalization of politics can stop.

The criminalization of politics is a situation where criminals have a significant presence in politics itself. Due to the criminalization of politics, a large number of criminals are contesting and contesting elections to Parliament and State Assemblies.

When criminals become elected representatives and lawmakers, they pose a serious threat to the functioning of the democratic system. According to ADR data, the number of candidates with criminal charges elected to Parliament in India has been increasing since 2004.

In 2004, 24% of MPs had pending criminal cases, which increased to 43% in 2019. In the Lok Sabha elections, 159 MPs had declared serious criminal cases against themselves, including rape, murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, and crimes against women.

Why should politicians be given special powers? Can a charge-sheeted person become an IAS officer? Can he hold any civil service posts? Then why should politicians be given this undue privilege which is against the very spirit of our democracy? Changes in this matter can only be brought about by the Parliament.

The Election Commission has been turned into a toothless institution. Only political will can bring about change.” According to a recently published report, nearly 45 percent of candidates of the Congress, BJP, and JD(S) who participated in the recently held Karnataka elections had criminal cases against them.

What is worrying is that nearly 30 percent of these candidates were accused of serious crimes, including rape and murder. India is one of the few countries where criminals are allowed to participate freely in elections and emerge as winners.

Let us take the example of the United States of America. If someone has a case of murder or rape, they will never be considered for a political ticket. Such persons will be debarred from contesting elections. However, this is not the case in India. This is a serious threat to our democratic process.

A democracy with criminals is not a healthy democracy. It is important to raise awareness among people about the issue of criminalization of politics. They need to understand that if they vote for such persons, they are harming not only the country but also themselves.

For example, if you are a person from an economically disadvantaged background and you vote for such candidates, your children’s education will be affected as schools will not function properly. Similarly, when you need medical help, the hospitals will not function effectively due to the rampant corruption done by these criminals. You will be deprived of basic facilities and services.

According to Gopal Sankaranarayanan, a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India, many politicians are well aware of the significant power and influence they have as lawmakers. They believe that their positions give them the ability not only to block laws that could hold them accountable but also to exert influence over government officials, ensuring that cases are not filed against them. go and they are safe.

There is a growing nexus between criminals and politicians to intimidate voters using fear and violence. Criminals resort to illicit spending to buy votes and promote a culture of freebies. Criminal politicians use their influence in the posting and transfer of bureaucrats and thus influence the governance of the state. They exploit divisions in society based on caste, class, and religion and portray themselves as protectors of their communities. Thus they harm the social fabric of the nation.

Criminals as politicians are not trained parliamentarians and often resort to unparliamentary practices to create disruptions in Parliament and State Legislatures that affect the functioning of the representative institution. As politicians with criminal pasts become ministers and lawmakers, it becomes difficult for state agencies to prosecute them, increasing the number of criminal cases in the judiciary.

This will curb money and muscle power and help serious candidates contest elections. Now is the time to strengthen the role of the Election Commission in regulating the electoral process and establish a framework for disqualifying candidates with criminal records. Parliament should put in place a strong legal framework that mandates all political parties to cancel the membership of persons against whom charges were framed in heinous and serious crimes and not to field such persons in elections to Parliament and State Assemblies.

Voters should be aware of the misuse of money and muscle power in elections. They should refrain from accepting gifts, inducements, and freebies and use the option of NOTA to express their displeasure against the candidate.

Combating the criminalization of politics requires a multi-pronged strategy, encompassing legal, institutional, and social measures, to protect the integrity of democratic systems and advance ethical and responsible political leadership. Why not organize an examination for contesting all kinds of elections in the country and their character should be properly verified for entering politics like a government job?

What is the harm in having a common political test on a smaller scale and the Indian Political Service exam for MPs? After all, if there is a government job and politics, then only service to the country? Only then the increasing criminalization of politics can stop.