Rising influence of money power in Indian elections poses a serious challenge to transparency, fairness, and democratic accountability. How can ethical electoral funding be ensured to maintain the integrity of democracy?

Money power & muscle power are major hurdles in free & fair elections. It poses a grave threat to the openness of any democracy.

Money power → Titlcial information from the electorate; Keeps the electorate in ignorance; All candidates do not equal access to money; Unfair campaign ground

as a threat to transparency

as a threat to fairness

as a threat to democratic accountability → Voters are paid to vote hence they cannot hold their representatives against the democratic accountability principle of equality

Steps to ensure ethical electoral funding:

The Honourable Supreme Court on ADR vs UoT (2002) struck down electoral bond scheme as it violated the ethical principles of right to information, transparency & accountability.

— ANINDYA PANDEY · AIR 158