Taking a major step against political deception, Rajya Sabha MP and environmentalist Balbir Singh Seechewal has introduced the Representation of the People Act, 1951 (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as a Private Member’s Bill in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill is aimed to provide legal recognition to election manifestos.
Seechewal stated that if the Bill is passed, promises made to the public during elections will no longer remain limited to speeches or paper documents, fulfilling them will become a legal obligation for governments. He emphasised that since Independence, political parties have made grand promises to voters, but there has been little accountability once in power, eroding public trust in democracy.
According to the Bill, every political party or coalition will be required to submit its election manifesto to the Election Commission. Each promise will have to be categorised as short-term, medium-term, or long-term, along with its timeline, estimated cost, source of funds, and expected outcomes clearly stated.
Governments will have to provide regular progress reports on their promises, which will be made publicly available through a dedicated online portal. An independent monitoring committee, chaired by a retired Supreme Court judge, will be set up to oversee the promises and submit an annual report to Parliament.
The Bill also includes strict provisions. The failure to fulfil promises will result in warnings, followed by fines running into millions of rupees, and deliberate misinformation will attract public censure along with substantial financial penalties.
Seechewal noted that the Bill is based on Supreme Court rulings from 2013 and 2021, which had called for a solid legal framework for election manifestos.
He added that the law will elevate election manifestos from being merely “political declarations” to becoming a “legal contract with the public.” The Bill represents the voice of millions of voters who cast their votes in good faith but often feel betrayed afterward.
Legal obligations for govt to fulfil promises: Balbir Singh Seechewal
Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal stated that if the Bill is passed, promises made to the public during elections will no longer remain limited to speeches or paper documents, fulfilling these will be a legal obligation for governments. He emphasised that since Independence, political parties have made grand promises to voters, but there has been little accountability once they gain power, eroding public trust in democracy