I just have one comment to add, from the last elections turnout I think it is only the illeterate, the poor, the adivasis, who do their civic duty and vote religiously in all election. (Of course what kind of leaders they chose is a different question). The literate (I cannot use "educated"), the so called thinking class considers it a waste of time to vote and takes pride in its lack of participation in democracy.
Unless the literate segment of Indian society realizes it civic responsibilities, the largest democracy in the world will only be a "Paradise of fools"