Chennai: Expressing serious concern about the growing role of money and muscle power in politics, Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishna Murthy today (Mar 13, 2004) called for a qualitative change in the Indian democracy and citizenship.

"I feel sad the way democracy have been functioning in the country of late and the way some of our constitutionally constituted institutions are functioning," he said, addressing the 79th annual day celebrations of the Loyola College in Chennai.

"Good governance comes through good administrators and good political masters who essentially need to have good educational and cultural background," he said, calling for active participation of the youth of India in the country's democratic process including polls.

He regretted "the deterioration of the quality of debates" in the elected bodies of the country and wanted the youth to play an active role in electing only good persons to the various democratic forums of the country.

"The country badly needs educated and disciplined representatives and leaders," he said, adding that the pattern of money and muscle power in Indian politics could be checked only through proper criticism, education and awareness.