https://odishapostepaper.com/edition/4962/orissapost/page/6
The former Chief Justice of India, Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar, in 2017, criticized political parties for routinely failing to fulfill electoral promises, dismissing their manifestos as “mere pieces of paper.” This sentiment remains relevant even today. Political parties unveil their manifestos at grand public events, investing substantial resources to disseminate their promises.
An election manifesto is a public declaration by a political party or candidate outlining their intentions, motives, and views. The manifesto serves as a roadmap of the party’s vision and commitments to the electorate, addressing various societal issues. Recognizing the significance of these promises, the Election Commission of India has proposed that each party submit an additional detailed form specifying every electoral promise, its financial implications, and plans for implementation based on the state’s financial condition. Following elections, the majority party forms the government, and citizens can exert pressure on the party in power to fulfil various promises made to the people in its election manifesto.
For instance, the BJP’s manifesto had 21 promises aimed at transforming Odisha into a trillion-dollar economy by 2036. The reason for stating the target in US dollars rather than Indian Rupees remained unknown for many. A common woman would have appreciated, if the target would have been mentioned in Indian Rupees. Nevertheless, the party won the election with a thumping majority displacing the party which ruled the state for more than two decades.
Now the people of Odisha have the right to know whether such promises will be fulfilled, or the manifesto will remain just as a means to win the election. Do they have funds to fulfill the promises made in the manifesto. Who can be held responsible for non fulfilment of the promises: the party or partymen? Should election manifesto be made a legal document? People look for answers for many such questions.
In democratic governance, political manifestos play a pivotal role in shaping promises and ensuring accountability. These documents are not merely ceremonial. Despite their importance, manifestos generally lack legal enforceability in most countries. In India too, the manifesto does not create legal obligations upon the party or the candidates once they come into power.
The Supreme Court of India had said in 2013, that commitment made by political parties in their election manifesto will not amount to “corrupt practice” under the Section 123 of The Representation of the People Act, 1951. It also stressed that it is not within its domain to legislate the kind of promises that can or cannot be made in the election manifesto. However, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to incorporate guidelines for manifestos in the Model Code of Conduct, aimed at preventing undue voter influence by the political parties and candidates.
Following the direction of the Supreme Court, the Model Code of Conduct drafted by the Election Commission of India for the 2014 general elections had guidelines that prohibited political parties from making promises in manifestos, that would exert an undue influence on voters. However, these guidelines do not confer legal status on manifestos.
After 10 years, once again in 2023, the Supreme Court began hearing petitions seeking a judicial declaration that irrational freebies offered by political parties to lure voters during election time should be considered a “corrupt practice”. Hope some clarity will emerge before the next general elections.
Notwithstanding the legal tussle, it is worth examining the alternative frameworks for making political manifestos more meaningful. According to the social contract theory, a manifesto can be seen as an implicit social contract between political parties and the voters. Political parties present their policies and promises as part of an agreement to govern in accordance with the people’s expectations. However, unlike legal contracts, the social contracts are not governed by any specific law, but they are embedded in social relationships and trust.
Such understanding of a manifesto also fits well with Gandhi’s school of political thought. According to Gandhi’s philosophy, a political manifesto should not be treated merely a means for electoral campaigns, but a document of moral declarations of the values and principles that a political party or leader stands for. He believed that the manifesto should reflect the highest moral standards and ethical principles, advocating for justice, equality, and non-violence.
Gandhi believed that the primary purpose of political activity and governance was to serve the people selflessly. So, a manifesto, in his view, should outline concrete steps and policies aimed at improving the welfare and well-being of all sections of society, particularly the marginalized and disadvantaged.
Gandhi was of the view that the means adopted in any public activity often determines the moral quality of the outcome and that of the persons involved too. A manifesto is also one of the means of communication used by the political parties before the election. So, if a political manifesto becomes a manifestation of grand promises sans truth, it reflects low moral values of the party and the partymen.