electoral reforms
Government Agrees to Parliamentary Debate on Electoral Reforms and Special Intensive Revision of Voter Rolls
Dec 02, 2025 04:31 pm CST
The Indian government has agreed to the opposition's demands for a parliamentary debate on electoral reforms, focusing on the controversial Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls. Opposition parties led by Congress and Trinamool have criticized the process, alleging it could illegally remove legitimate voters. The controversy has extended to concerns about pressure on booth-level officers, with protests occurring outside the Election Commission's Kolkata office.
Kiren Rijiju Open to Electoral Reform Discussions in Rajya Sabha But Requests More Preparation Time
Dec 02, 2025 02:43 am CST
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated in the Rajya Sabha that the government is willing to discuss Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and electoral reforms, but requested additional time for preparation. Opposition parties, led by Mallikarjun Kharge, demanded immediate discussions, resulting in their walkout when the timeline request was denied. The Election Commission has announced SIR in multiple states, particularly those approaching 2026 elections.
Wealth and Crime in Bihar Politics: 90% Crorepati MLAs While Criminal Cases Decline in 18th Assembly
Nov 18, 2025 12:39 am CST
The 18th Bihar Assembly shows contrasting trends with 90% of MLAs being crorepatis while criminal cases have declined to 53% from 68% in 2020. Despite improvements, women still make up only 12% of the house, and the wealth gap between legislators and average citizens has widened dramatically, with MLAs now approximately 1,500 times richer than the average Bihar resident.
Bangladesh to Hold National Referendum Alongside February Elections: What You Need to Know
Nov 13, 2025 09:01 pm CST
Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of Bangladesh's Interim Government, has announced a simultaneous referendum and national election in February 2025. The referendum will address constitutional reforms including a bicameral parliament system, despite opposition from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party who argue implementation should be left to an elected government with democratic mandate.
Shashi Tharoor Calls for End to Dynasty Politics in India: "Time to Trade Dynasty for Meritocracy"
Nov 03, 2025 11:03 pm CST
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor argues that India's democracy is compromised by widespread dynasty politics across all parties, suggesting fundamental reforms are needed to establish meritocracy in political leadership. In his recent article "Indian Politics Are a Family Business," Tharoor provides extensive examples of political dynasties throughout India and calls for legal term limits and meaningful internal party elections to empower voters to select leaders based on merit rather than surname.
Maharashtra Opposition Unites to Demand Electoral Transparency Ahead of Local Body Polls
Oct 14, 2025 11:33 pm CST
Leaders from major Maharashtra opposition parties jointly petitioned the Election Commission demanding greater transparency in the upcoming local body elections. They raised concerns about voter list management, VVPAT machine usage, and repeated election delays since 2022. The unified front, including Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, and other prominent leaders, called for electoral reforms to restore public trust in the democratic process ahead of polls mandated by the Supreme Court to be completed by January 2026.
New Mobile Phone Policy at Bihar Polling Stations: Election Commission's Innovative Approach for 2025 Elections
Oct 06, 2025 09:12 pm CST
The Election Commission of India has implemented a new mobile phone policy for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, allowing voters to deposit devices outside polling rooms. Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar announced several innovative measures for the two-phase November elections, including dedicated observers for each constituency and improvements following the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls that registered 7.43 crore voters.
17 Revolutionary Electoral Reforms Introduced in Bihar Elections Set to Transform India's Voting System
Oct 06, 2025 08:22 pm CST
The Election Commission of India has introduced 17 groundbreaking reforms for the upcoming Bihar assembly elections, including enhanced digital services, improved compensation for officials, streamlined voter verification processes, and mandatory VVPAT counts for mismatches. These innovations aim to purify electoral rolls and will serve as a nationwide model for future elections, setting new standards for electoral transparency and efficiency across India.
Poll Body's New Reform, Candidates' Photos On Voting Machines, Begins From Bihar
Sep 17, 2025 08:33 pm CST
The Election Commission of India has made some changes to make Electronic Voting Machine ballot papers clearer and more voter-friendly.