Background & Objective

When PAC initiated its first experiment in the electoral arena, there was no provision for candidates standing for election to disclose information about themselves. As a result, the voters were never fully aware of candidates’ backgrounds and history. This undemocratic approach prompted the Public Affairs Centre to initiate an innovative exercise during the 11th Lok sabha elections in Karnataka. The objective of the campaign was to bring a modicum of transparency to the election process by providing voters with detailed background information on the contesting candidates.

Partner The Deccan Herald, a leading English daily newspaper in Bangalore, partnered with PAC for the campaign and played an important role in information dissemination.

About the Campaign    

• PAC had undertaken the programme to get responses from the candidates belonging to major political parties in 12 constituencies in Karnataka.

• A questionnaire was prepared, which sought information on several aspects of the candidates’ backgrounds such as education, profession, sources of income, expenditures, criminal record, tax payment, change of political affiliation, achievements and specific plans of action.

• The information was made public and disclosed to the voters in order to enable them to make an informed choice in the forthcoming elections.

Impact The candidates interviewed disclosed a variety of personal details. The data was analysed and publicised meticulously by the media. The Deccan Herald brought out a series of exclusive write-ups on this issue. For the first time it became apparent that it is certainly feasible to promote transparency with respect to candidates’ backgrounds.