A talk by Madhukar Gupta, the State Election Commissioner for the Government of Rajasthan, on some of the issues and dilemmas that affect the functioning and legitimacy of electoral democracy in India.
Event moderated by Alison Post, Associate Professor of Political Science and Global Metropolitan Studies, UC Berkeley.
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DATE: Tue, April 23, 2024
TIME: 12 - 1:30 pm Berkeley | Calculate Your Local Time
VENUE: 10 Stephens Hall
LIVESTREAM: On FB at ISASatUCBerkeley
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ABSTRACT
There have been multifaceted challenges in contemporary electoral democracies ranging from misuse of physical strength and wealth during polling to the criminalization of politics and the manipulation of government machinery. Issues such as casteism, communalism, and the ethical vacuum in politics further complicate the electoral landscape. The electoral procedures have largely remained static since 1952, highlighting a need for adaptation to modern advancements to enhance efficiency and inclusivity in the electoral process. The increasing election expenditure underscores the urgency for reform and a shift towards more transparent and cost-effective electoral practices. In 20 years, in six elections to Parliament (1998-2019), election expenditure has gone up by six times. Efforts to enhance electoral logistics and efficiency include exploring alternative venues for vote counting to minimize disruption to academic activities and advocating for private sector involvement in EVM manufacturing to reduce costs. Moreover, proposals to modernize election processes through the evaluation of technology versus manual methods and decentralizing EVM and ballot storage aim to optimize resource allocation and improve accessibility. Additionally, initiatives to promote diversity in participation and strengthen electoral codes of conduct seek to ensure fair competition, transparency and the integrity of the electoral process. By addressing legislative lacunae, enhancing dispute resolution mechanisms and promoting accountability within political parties, there is potential to overcome the challenges and evolve a more robust and inclusive electoral democracy in India.
SPEAKER BIO
Madhukar Gupta, retired IAS officer (1985, Rajasthan), is the State Election Commissioner for the Government of Rajasthan, India. He holds engineering, business, and law degrees from Delhi University and was selected as a Mason Fellow by Harvard for a Master’s degree in Public Administration. The Government of India also sent him to Syracuse University’s Maxwell School for a Master’s degree in Public Policy. He has worked in the Indian Government, provincial governments of Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, United Nations Development Program, non-profit sector, and as Vice Chancellor of a state university. Dr. Gupta has also spent thirteen years as a practitioner as Divisional Commissioner in four divisions (regions), District Magistrate in three districts, and Sub-Divisional Magistrate in two places. He has received awards from the National Productivity Council and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. He has traveled to four dozen countries for work and published several papers. Dr. Gupta has a PhD. in Economics from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science–Pilani.
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PARKING INFORMATION
Please note that parking is not always easily available in Berkeley. Take public transportation if possible or arrive early to secure your spot.
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If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) or information about campus mobility access features in order to fully participate in this event, please contact Puneeta Kala at pkala@berkeley.edu with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.
