The Representation of People's Act, the bedrock of free and fair elections in the country, has failed to keep pace with the contemporary challenges. Highlighting the shortcomings in the legislation, suggest reforms to make it more effective.

Representation of Peoples Act was enacted by Parliament Under Article 283 to enforce Free and Fair elections in India. Features - RPA (1950) Features: - Election and allocation of seats to Lok Sabha and State legislature - Determination of constituencies - Preparation of electoral Role RPA (1951) Features: - Regulation of political Parties - Conduct of election and is Malpractices - Penalties and offences - Electoral offences RPA as Bedrock of Fair Election: (1) ensures levelplaying field For all (2) actual conduct of elections and declaration of accrues (3) eligibility of voters and their education and awareness in electoral democracy

RPA and Contemporary Challenges: (1) Criminalisation of Politics - Role of money - muscle power increasingly due to inability to stop buying of Votes (2) Campaigning on divisive lines - Religion and caste based campaigning [Vote Bank politics] (3) Online and social media campaigning - greater reach and higher ability to influence voters outside ambit of RPA Shortcomings in Legislation: (1) Under-representation and Over-representation issue without to constituencies [Freening of seats as per 1941 census] (2) Inability of Election to enforce Free and Fair election - Submission of False report and no legal action against It - Not Regulating role of money power [Business - political party nexus ] - Anonymous Funds to Political Party ] (3) To penalise and disqualify against False affidavit (4) Strengthening disqualification under Section 8 and to discriminalise politics By setting up Fast track courts and time frame For disposal of cases (5) Focus on voter education and awareness by Primarily it as section under RPA With seven decades of change, it is time to accommodate current challenges into RPA cut to make it effective to Face new challenges.

Section 29 B.C Writ Funding Favoring Ruling Party [15/2 Funds under electoral Bond to ruling party] Measures: (1) elaborately Corrupt practices under Section 123 by Including social media campaigning on divisive lines (2) Power to Election commission to delegated political parties to enforce compliance => To bring Intra-party democracy => Regulate party Funding (3) To penalise and disqualify against False affidavit (4) Strengthening disqualification under Section 8 and to discriminalise politics By setting up Fast track courts and time frame For disposal of cases (5) Focus on voter education and awareness by Primarily it as section under RPA With seven decades of change, it is time to accomodate current challenges into RPA cut to make it effective to Face new challenges.