Articles by Navin B Chawla
Crack down on threats to free and fair elections
The presence of large sums of unaccounted money and the misuse of electoral funds plague the democratic process. ECI should, in its upcoming consultation with political parties, attack this scourge of black money to ensure a level-playing field
Published on Oct 09, 2022 06:03 PM IST
‘I have no doubt our EVMs are tamper-proof’
Unlike EVMs used in many other countries, these can neither be networked by wire or by wireless to any other machine or system, nor can they be influenced by signals from computers or mobile phones.
Updated on Jan 23, 2019 07:58 AM IST
Navin B Chawla
The Election Commission can only be a neutral umpire
It has tried over long years to ban criminality from the electoral maidan, but that requires laws to be amended. Only Parliament can do that.
Published on Nov 28, 2018 12:26 PM IST
Navin B Chawla
Simultaneous elections cannot happen without political consensus
Detailed political consultations are needed to determine what would need to be done if, thereafter, any assembly loses a confidence vote. Would there be a spell of President’s rule in the concerned state?
Published on Mar 08, 2018 04:31 PM IST
Navin B Chawla
The unholy alliance of Muscle Power and Money Power is weakening Indian democracy
During my five and half years in the Election Commission of India (ECI), I witnessed the growth of “money power” as a hydra-headed monster. Equally distressing is what I could call “muscle power”. In both the 15th as well as the present Lok Sabha, almost 30% of the members have one or more criminal case registered against them
Updated on Dec 26, 2017 03:49 PM IST
Navin B Chawla
Assembly elections: ‘Winnability’ has given criminals a political halo
Should our parties keep welcoming criminals into their fold and giving party tickets to those with criminal backgrounds simply for the sake of ‘winnability’?
Updated on Jan 26, 2017 09:52 PM IST
Navin B Chawla
Election Commission of India: How the giant polling machine pulls it off
In a country as vast and diverse as India, the Election Commission of India is one of the most pro-active, micro-managing each election, never losing focus of details, attending to every aspect up to the last mile.
Updated on Jan 06, 2017 06:53 AM IST
Navin B Chawla
Laws against people with leprosy must go
India declared itself free of leprosy as a communicable disease in 2005 in the belief that the National Leprosy Eradication Mission had eliminated it. That was a huge mistake and we became complacent. The result: Over 100,000 cases have emerged every year since 2012, the maximum in the world, writes Navin B Chawla.
Updated on May 21, 2015 10:59 PM IST
Navin B Chawla
No democracy can stand on the frail platform of inequality
Despite being the largest democracy, we have a long way to go before we can lay claim to the concept of a welfare State, writes Navin B Chawla.
Updated on Oct 03, 2014 10:31 PM IST
Navin B Chawla, New Delhi
Why the Election Commission doubts opinion polls
While opinion polls offer inferences (that may affect voters, especially undecided ones), they are often neither scientific nor transparent about their sampling methods.
Updated on Apr 28, 2014 11:09 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Navin B Chawla, New Delhi
The youth are no longer apathetic to politics, they want jobs and a better future
The ECI’s latest data point to a very large number of new voters in the age group 18-22. This translates into almost 180,000 young voters per constituency. Most of them will vote for the first time in the upcoming general election. Writes Navin B Chawla, former Chief Election Commissioner.
Updated on Mar 02, 2014 11:30 PM IST
Hindustan Times | Navin B Chawla, New Delhi
Indian government must consider State funding of polls
The government must consider State funding of polls. Otherwise, we could soon have a Parliament comprising oligarchies, writes Navin B Chawla, former chief election commissioner.
Updated on Feb 10, 2014 07:40 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Navin B Chawla, New Delhi
AAP’s victory makes strong case for state funding of polls
The recent round of assembly elections has once again demonstrated the vitality of India’s democracy, but it has also raised other significant issues, writes Navin B Chawla.
Updated on Dec 12, 2013 01:53 AM IST
Hindustan Times | Navin B Chawla
A change from within
The subject of electoral reforms is not new. While all electoral reforms demand attention, we must first bar those accused of serious crimes from contesting, writes Navin B Chawla.
Updated on Feb 25, 2013 01:10 AM IST
Navin B Chawla