[nukkad] Electoral Reforms

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Tip of the day:  There are moments when art attains almost to the dignity 
of manual labour.  -- Oscar Wilde (1856-1900)
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Dr. Gupta wrote: India can not adopt this system unless the Constitution is
amended. It is a pity that the Constitution Review Committee did not comment
on this point at all. People should start a mass movement for such change.
Nukkad would be better utilized for such discussion.

I do not think that it needs a Constitutional Amendment. All that is
required is amendment to the Representation of People Act. But is it
practicable or even desirable to have a second round of election in every
constituency?

 Second round of election between the top contenders in the first round may
be practicable in  Presidential form of Government but I doubt whether any
country following Parliamentary system  has such a second round to decide
the winners. The solution has to be found elsewhere. 

One problem with Indian Democracy is the multiplicity of Parties and
candidates. In 1977 we thought we have achieved the dream of a two party
system but our geriatric leadership wrecked it because of ego problems. Now
we have more parties than we had before 1977. Can we ever have a two party
system?

I put forth the following suggestion for debate by list members. 

1. Panchayati Raj Act should be given more teeth and be made foundation of
Democracy. Any law abiding Citizen or Party should be allowed to contest
Gram Panchayat & Zila Parishad elections. The results of these elections
should be the basis for determining the candidature for State Assembly
elections.
2. Only such Political Parties which secure a minimum percentage of total
votes (say 25%) polled in the ZP polls in the State should be allowed to
field candidates for Assembly elections. This will eliminate a lot of fringe
groups which currently exploit their nuisance value by joining coalitions
with large parties and extract more than their pound of flesh. With the
exception of sitting members of Zilla Parishad, no independent candidate
should be allowed. Let independent candidates prove their popularity first
in the ZP election before graduating to Assembly. This reasonable
restriction will take care of the individual's right to contest the
election. 
3. Eligibility to contest Lok Sabha elections can be based on votes secured
by parties in the Assembly polls in the State. Parties polling less than,
say 25%, of total votes polled in the State should be barred from fielding
candidates in Lok Sabha Constituencies of the State. Sitting independent
MLAs - having proved their popularity - (Not MLCs, not MLAs who won on Party
tickets) may be allowed to contest as independents. In order to offset
regionalism, All India Parties holding more than, say, 100 seats in the
dissolved Lok Sabha may also be allowed to put up candidates in all States
regardless of popular votes such party gained in the last Assembly election
in a state. 
4. The last election to the lower tier will be the basis for determining
eligibility to contest for the next tier. The rationale is that only proven
popularity at the lower tier should make a party or individual eligible for
contesting the next tier. 
5. It has pitfalls. If adopted, Congress will not be able to contest
Assembly elections in Bihar and Tamil Nadu but will be able to contest Lok
Sabha elections. Similarly, BJP cannot contest Assembly elections in Kerala
and Tamil Nadu but being a National Party with more than 100 seats, it can
contest all Lok Sabha seats in those states. But if national parties are not
given national weightage, regionalism will rule the roost. 
6. If the National Party succeeds in getting 25% votes polled in the State
in Lok Sabha elections, it can be allowed to field candidates for the next
assembly elections in that state. This again is to facilitate growth of
National Parties vis-a-vis regional parties. 
7. What will happen if the Legislature Party or Zila Council Party splits?
How will it affect the election eligibility of split party for the higher
tier? 

Submitted to Nukkies for tearing it apart or refining or modifying the
suggestions. 

V.K.Venugopal





 


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