Recent efforts to reform political parties:
(i) The constitution was amended to prevent elected MLAs and MPs from changing parties. This was done because many elected representatives were indulging in DEFECTION in order to become ministers or for cash rewards. Now if any MP or MLA changes parties, he or she loses the seat in the legislature.
(ii) The Supreme Court passed an order to reduce the influence of money and criminals. Now it is mandatory for every candidate who contests elections, to file an affidavit giving the details of his property and criminal cases pending against him. The new system has made a lot of information available to the public. But there is no system of the check if the information given by the candidates is true.
(iii) The Election Commission passed an order making it necessary for political parties to hold their organizational elections and file their income tax returns. The parties have started doing so but sometimes it is mere a formality. It is not clear if this step has led to greater internal democracy in political parties.