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History of Booth Capturing in Congress Rule: A Dark Chapter in India’s Electoral Journey

India is the world’s largest democracy, admired globally for conducting massive elections through the power of the ballot. But like every democracy, India too has faced challenges in ensuring free and fair elections. One of the most controversial practices that stained the country’s electoral system in its early decades was booth capturing. This phenomenon, which largely gained infamy during the Congress rule, not only undermined the sanctity of the ballot but also forced major electoral reforms in the country.

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What is Booth Capturing?

Booth capturing refers to the practice of forcibly taking control of a polling station by musclemen or party workers, stuffing ballot boxes with fake votes, or preventing genuine voters from casting their ballots. In essence, it is a direct attack on democracy where the will of the people is hijacked by force and intimidation.

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Early Traces During Congress Dominance

In the first two decades after Independence, the Indian National Congress was the dominant political force. Elections during this period were generally seen as fair, but with growing political competition in the 1960s, instances of electoral malpractices started surfacing.

• 1960s and 1970s: Booth capturing first came into focus in the late 1950s and 1960s, particularly in states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Reports of ballot box snatching, intimidation of voters, and misuse of state machinery started being associated with local Congress leaders and their rivals.
• 1970s – The Era of Institutional Weakness: The 1970s, marked by the Emergency and its aftermath, saw growing public distrust in electoral processes. It was during this decade that booth capturing became a widely discussed malpractice, with Bihar earning the notorious title of being the “birthplace of booth capturing.”

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The First Recorded Case

According to the Election Commission’s records, the first officially reported case of booth capturing occurred in 1957 in Rachiyawan village of Begusarai district, Bihar. Congress was then the dominant party, and local strongmen reportedly used muscle power to ensure favorable results.
This case exposed the vulnerability of India’s electoral system and raised serious concerns about the integrity of elections under Congress dominance.

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Congress Rule and Political Muscle

During the long Congress rule, the party often relied on local power structures to maintain its electoral dominance. In states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Andhra Pradesh, local politicians used musclemen to secure polling booths.

• Use of Local Strongmen: Congress leaders were accused of hiring criminals and strongmen to “manage” booths, especially in rural constituencies.
• Suppression of Opposition: In areas where opposition parties were rising, booth capturing was used to prevent them from gaining ground.
• State Machinery Complicity: With Congress governments in power both at the Centre and in most states, allegations surfaced that law enforcement often turned a blind eye to such malpractices.

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Booth Capturing and the Decline of Credibility

By the late 1970s and 1980s, booth capturing had become synonymous with elections in certain pockets of India. This not only damaged the credibility of the Congress party but also eroded public faith in democracy. Opposition parties frequently accused Congress of manipulating elections, and the Election Commission was criticized for being powerless against such practices.

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Major Reforms Triggered

Ironically, the widespread malpractice of booth capturing under Congress dominance forced India to strengthen its democratic institutions.

• Introduction of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs): One of the biggest reforms was the gradual shift from ballot boxes to EVMs. By making booth capturing and ballot stuffing difficult, EVMs reduced large-scale electoral fraud.
• Stronger Election Commission: In the 1990s, under Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan, sweeping reforms were introduced to curb muscle power and booth capturing. Strict monitoring of polling booths, deployment of central forces, and use of voter ID cards were direct responses to the malpractices rooted in earlier decades.
• Legal Measures: In 1989, the Representation of the People Act was amended to make booth capturing a cognizable offence, punishable with imprisonment and disqualification of candidates.

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Legacy of Booth Capturing

While booth capturing is not as rampant today as it was under Congress rule in the past, its history remains a reminder of how fragile democracy can be when misused by political elites. The practice tarnished India’s electoral image for decades and highlighted the dangers of unchecked dominance of a single party.

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Conclusion

The history of booth capturing during Congress rule is a sobering lesson for India’s democracy. It demonstrates how electoral power can be corrupted when musclemen, money, and political influence overpower the voice of the people. At the same time, it also showcases India’s resilience, as the nation introduced reforms to safeguard elections against such malpractices.

Today, while isolated incidents of booth capturing still occur, the robust electoral mechanisms—EVMs, strict monitoring, and voter awareness—stand as strong barriers against the dark legacy of the past. The Congress era of booth capturing thus remains a cautionary tale and a turning point in India’s democratic journey.