"India is a Sham Democracy"

India is a "nominal democracy" with "political families and a few elite" continuing to rule the nation since its independence unfairly. I therefore consider India a sham democracy. To say that elections in the country are conducted free and fair is absolutely laughable. Rich candidates and people connected with political families almost always have their way in dictating the terms of the elections in India.

Unless the five percent elite and political families are held accountable to make way for an egalitarian society, India cannot remotely consider itself a democracy. I cannot think of a democracy without competition. The caste system is like an extended family. They take refuge in each other for security, because politicians have kept them helpless over the years. Unless they get an alternative, this would continue and India would remain divided- James Lyngdoh, former chief election commissioner of India.