India is said to be the largest democracy in the world. Every citizen in India, who is above 18 years, has the right to vote. There are clearly defined areas of legislature, executive and judiciary in India. India has a directly elected Prime Minister, other ministers and legislators. There is a Panchayati Raj in the rural areas.
In spite of all this, it cannot be said categorically that democracy is really a success in India. According to the former Chief Election Commissioner, Lyngdoh, not even a single politician in India is committed to democracy. In his opinion, the zamindari system in essence still continues in India.
The elected representatives take the five year period for which they are elected as lease for fiefdom in which they can do whatever they like and this exactly is what we see today in India. If we take the pre-retrial remarks of Mr. Lyngdoh seriously, we’d have to infer that real democracy is still to take roots in India.
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The Indian democracy is endangered from several angles. There are so many communal forces in our country. The politicians and the bureaucrats are all by and large models of corruption. In spite of all the efforts of the Election Commission and the judiciary fair and free elections are not always held. Booth-capturing is still not totally eliminated.
Unless some drastic measures are taken by all concerned, democracy may still be in danger in India. Only one positive thing one can say about Indian democracy is that mostly the freedom of the press is there in this country which enables the common people to express their voice even if it is not always heard by the authorities concerned.