Misuse of Caste and Religion for Electoral Gains

The use of religion, caste, community, tribe, and any other form of group identity for electoral gain or for gathering political support should not be allowed and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, be suitably amended to give the Election Commission powers to take deterrent actions against those candidates and political parties who resort to it. Such actions should include, but not limited to, disqualifying candidates from contesting elections and de- registering the offending political parties. Political parties should also not be allowed to use overtly religious, caste, community, tribe, and other such expressions and words in their names.