Update on National Campaign
 
Dear Friends,

A lot has happened over the past few days. The all-party meeting, responses of leading parliamentarians, media coverage of the events, editorial comments - all these are in the public domain, and we need not list them here. Let me focus on the campaign for electoral reforms.

On 9th July the meeting was held with all activists spearheading the campaign. Among others the following participated:

Sri L.C.Jain                                                                             Dr.Subash Kashyap
Dr.N Bhaskara Rao(CMS)                                                     Sri Kuldip Nayar
Sri Ajay Ranaade(ADR)                                                         Justice Rajinder Sachar
Dr. Trilochan Sastry (ADR)                                                    Admiral Tahiliani (Transparency International)
Sri Sharad Kumar (AGNI, Mumbai)                                       Sri Jagadaananda (CYSD, Orissa)
Mrs Tara Sinha                                                                       Sri A K Venkatasubrahmanian (Catalyst Trust, Chennai)
Prof. Partha Shah (Centre for Civil Society)                            General Vinod Saighal
Ms. Maja Daruwala (CHRI)                                                   Ms. Pinky Anand
Sri Suresh Balakrishnan ( Public Affairs Centre, Bangalore)
Dr.Manmohan Malhoutra (Rajiv Gandhi Foundation)
Sri Sanjay Parikh (PUCL)                                                      Sri  Aravind Kumar ( Parivartan)
Sri Promod Chawla (Parivartan)                                             Sri Manish Sisodia (Parivartan)
Sri Naveen Surapaneni (CMS)                                               Sri Nahata
Sri H K Singh                                                                         Sri A N Kaul
Sri Pankaj Agarwal (Transparency International)
 
 

There were several other colleagues and representatives of participating organizations. Scores of other organizations and hundreds of activists and concerned citizens sent messages of support. One excellent news is we now have strong endorsements and commitment to lead the effort from four of India's leading civil society movements. Ms. Aruna Roy
and Nikhil De sent a warm message expressing unreserved support and willingness to guide the effort. They also pledged
the support and participation of partner organizations in National Campaign for Right to Information. This is excellent
news, and will immeasurably strengthen the campaign for electoral reforms. Ms. Aruna Roy's distinguished leadership.

Sri Manubhai Shah of CERC and Sri RM Tripathi of AVARD pledged strong support and leadership. The leadership of these stalwarts with vast experience and insights will greatly strengthen us.

I have had the privilege of interacting with Sri Anna Hazare recently, and we can count on his blessings, leadership and guidance.

The meeting was lively and candid, and the discussion was rich and insightful. It was decided to launch a National Campaign for Electoral Reforms. The details of the meeting, names of some of the key participating/supporting organizations, and those of several activists and concerned citizens who  are promoting the effort are enclosed.

One key decision at the meeting was to educate the public and explain to parties and media that the Supreme Court's directive was in pursuance of right to information guaranteed to citizens as per Art 19 (1) of the Constitution, and cannot in any way be construed as usurpation of legislature's jurisdiction.
 
In the pursuance of the decisions at the meeting, a letter was sent to all political parties, along with clarifications on the EC's order. These have already been communicated to all friends.

A press meet was held on 10th July at CMS, New Delhi. The Citizens' view point was explained to the media.

One of the key decisions at the meeting was to meet leadership of the political parties explain to them citizens' point of view, allay some of their apprehensions, and seek their support for the disclosure norms.

Accordingly, Sri Kuldip Nayar, Admiral Tahiliani, Ms Maja Daruwala, Dr. N Bhaskara Rao, Gen.Vinod Saighal, Dr.Trilochan Sastry and I called on Dr.Manmohan Singh, the leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha at 11 AM on 11th July. The interaction was extremely fruitful. Dr.Singh explained to us that Congress Party was in principle in favour of disclosures. However, he felt that the discretion given to the Returning Officer to verify the details furnished, and reject the nomination in case of defects of substantial character in the affidavit poses a great hurdle.

 If the Election Commission ensures that the ROs do not have any discretion to decide on the veracity of disclosures, then Congress may be in a position to support the disclosures.

The delegation called on the President of BJP, Sri Venkiah Naidu at 3 PM on 11th July. Sri Naidu appreciated the efforts of non-partisan, concerned citizens. He was particularly appreciative of the sensitivity of the National Campaign in not projecting politics and parties as villains. He explained that the government has announced its intention to bring in suitable legislation. He promised to bring our views and contents of National Campaign's letter to the notice of the Dy. Prime Minister Sri L K Advani The group had impromptu discussion after these meetings. The broad view which emerged from the two meetings was, while disclosure of details at the time of nomination was necessary for the health of our democracy and therefore non-negotiable, there is a case for reconsidering the discretionary power given to the Returning Officer to reject a nomination if he concludes that the disclosures suppressed information, or there was false disclosure. The view emerged that realistically there is no time or opportu It was therefore decided that the National Campaign should bring to the Election Commission's notice that the difficulties political parties foresee, and ask the Commission to address these legitimate concerns. The group was unanimous in the view that non-disclosure, or blank proformas under any major head should entail rejection of nomination. We can only ask the EC to consider clarifying that the RO would not have any arbitrary or discretionary power.

Accordingly an appointment was sought with the CEC. In a brief meeting at 4.30 PM on 11th July, Sri J M Lyngdoh, and EC Sri T S Krishnamurthy, this view of major political parties was explained to the Commission. The Commission promised to examine the issue in all aspects and take a considered view on the matter.

As can be seen from the minutes of the meeting, four groups were constituted to guide the various facets of the campaign from Delhi. Sri Kuldip Nayar, Admiral Tahiliani, Dr. N. Bhaskara Rao, General Vinod Saighal and others have agreed to meet other major political parties and seek their support for disclosures, and electoral reforms.
 

Sri L C Jain and the activists with grassroots support and contacts have agreed to involve all other like-minded voluntary organizations, movements and activists in the campaign.

Sri S V Sista, Mrs. Tara Sinha, Dr.N.Bhaskara Rao and Ms. Maja Daruwala have agreed to coordinate the public
education campaign and media strategies.

All these groups will use the National Campaign for Electoral reforms to pursue the activities and take all necessary steps from time to time in pursuance of the decisions of the National Campaign meetings.

The next meeting can be held in Delhi after the situation about the proposed law becomes clearer.

All activities may kindly be intimated to the two coordinating centers given below:

Dr. N Bhaskara Rao
CENTRE FOR MEDIA STUDIES
RESEARCH HOUSE
Community Centre, Saket,
New Delhi - 110017
Ph: 011- 6867348, 6864020, 6851660  Fax: 011-6968282
Email: nbraocms@vsnl.com

LOK SATTA
407, Nirmal Towers
Panjagutta
Hyderabad - 500082
Ph: 040-3350778, 3350790, 3352487 Fax: 040-3350783
Email : loksatta@satyam.net.in
url: www.loksatta.org

This will facilitate effective communication to all and better coordination.

To sum up, while the parties' public stance seems clear, there are several shades of opinion when you delve deeper. There are four possible scenarios:

a) The EC will address the parties' concerns about the discretionary powers of ROs. Then the major parties may reconsider the issue and support the disclosure norms as per EC's order.

b) EC will not address these concerns, and the 'discretion' in the hands of the ROs as "unguided missiles" will be an irritant, and parties will write to bring in an alternative, but diluted legislation.

c) The EC will issue a clarification; but the parties may anyway go ahead with a legislation which satisfies them, even if it means public dissatisfaction.

d) Parliament may legislate a law in keeping with public opinion clearly expressed, but excluding the discretion to RO. In this case, Parliament may see it as assertion of its own legitimate role, and it is more an issue of principle than the outcome. Obviously, all of us would be happy to see either (a) or (d) to come true. We will have to respond to the situation as it emerges. Meanwhile our campaign to consolidate public opinion will have to continue, with each of us playing our roles. We should, of course be in constant consultation to be able to quickly respond to the developing situation.
 
with warm regards
 
Jayaprakash Narayan

Lok Satta
401/408 Nirmal Towers
Dwarakapuri Colony, Punjagutta
Hyderabad - 500 082
Tel: 040 3350778/3350790
Fax: 040 3350783
E-mail: loksatta@satyam.net.in
url: www.loksatta.org

NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS

Several non-partisan people’s movements, activists, jurists, scholars, and concerned citizens met in New Delhi on 9th July to review the recent developments relating to the people’s sovereign right to know about the candidates who seek to represent them. These organizations and individuals represent various shades of public opinion, and have a long and distinguished track record of active citizenship and vigorous efforts to enrich our democracy and enhance popular respect for the democratic process.

The meeting deliberated in great detail on the current issue of candidate disclosures, as well as the larger electoral reforms.
The following conclusions were drawn;

    1. A broad coalition of people’s movements, organisation, activist, experts and concerned citizens has been formed to
        launch a National Campaign for Electoral Reforms.
    2. This Campaign will focus for the time being on the voter’s sovereign right to be informed about the candidates.
        The Campaign objectives are to promote public awareness and achieve comprehensive electoral reforms to ensure free
        and fair polls, eliminate voting irregularities, prevent criminalisation of politics, ensure transparency and accountable
        finding and utilisation for political purpose, internal democracy in political parties and measures to enhance legitimacy
        of representation and popular participation in political process.
    3. Campaign committees will be constituted all over the country, with local committees representing every constituency.
        The National Campaign appeals to all citizens’ initiatives and civil society organisations to join this effort. We call upon
        concerned citizens to volunteer to expand the movement all over the country.
    4. An open letter is addressed to political parties on the immediate issue of disclosure of candidates’ details at the time
        of  nomination, based on Supreme Court's Judgement and Election Commission’s order. The letter is enclosed.
    5. A note has been prepared for wide dissemination and public education and for circulation among political parties and
        legislators to put disclosure issue in perspective. The note is enclosed.
    6. The National Campaign believes that the primacy of political process and supremacy of Parliament in matters of
        legislation must be universally respected and strengthened. What India needs is more politics, not less, and more
        democracy, not less.
    7. The current issue is not about a clash between the respective roles of the judiciary and legislature. It is about us, the
        people. It is about the citizens’ fundamental right to know about their candidates and their governance. The Supreme
        Court's judgement of May 2 in an affirmation of the natural rights of voters which flow from the concept of democracy
        and cannot be construed as usurpation of the legislature’s role. Disclosure is not disqualification.
    8. It has been decided to meet the leadership of the major political parties, explain the disclosure issue in perspective
        from citizens’ point of view, and seek their support for enrichment of our democratic process. Shri. Kuldip Nayar,
        Admiral  Tahliani, Justice Rajendra Sachar, Sri. S D. Sharma, and Gen. Vinod Saigal will meet political parities during
        the course of the next few days for this purpose.
    9. Public education through the involvement of mass media is critical for the National Campaign. Dr. N. Bhaskara Rao,
        Sri. S.V. Sista, Ms Tara Sinha, and Ms. Maja Daruwala, will coordinate the media Campaign.
  10. The National Campaign will involve people’s initiatives and concerned citizens across the country. Sri. L.C. Jain,
        Sri. Jagadananda, Sri. S.D. Sharma, Sri. AK. Venkatasubramaniam, and AVARD will coordinate these efforts.
  11. An effective campaign for electoral reforms needs constant legal support and advice. Justice Rajendra Sachar,
        Ms. Kamini Jaiswal, Sri Sanjay Parikh and Ms. Pinky Anand will provide legal support to the Campaign.

The National Campaign will coordinated from two centers:
CENTRE FOR MEDIA STUDIES
RESEARCH HOUSE
Community Centre, Saket,
New Delhi – 110017
Ph: 011- 6867348, 6864020, 6851660  Fax: 011-6968282
Email: nbraocms@vsnl.com

LOK SATTA
407, Nirmal Towers
Panjagutta
Hyderabad – 500082
Ph: 040-3350778, 3350790, 3352487 Fax: 040-3350783
Email : loksatta@satyam.net.in
url: www.loksatta.org

The National Campaign appeals to all citizens to join hands to cleanse our polity of criminal and corrupt elements and strengthen the hands of the many committed and concerned representatives in all political parties.  Purity of elections and legitimacy of representation are the cardinal foundations of any democracy. The people, who are the ultimate sovereigns,
must join this struggle for better democracy. We express deep appreciation to the mass media whose steadfast struggle to uphold the values of liberty and democracy has enriched our public debate and helped improve our political process.

The National Campaign looks up to political parties, public representatives and the mass media for leadership and direction
to defend liberty, strengthen democracy and respect people’s sovereignty. We most earnestly urge all concerned citizens to
join this campaign to fortify electoral reforms which shield our legislatures from persons of dubious background, strengthen
our democracy and enhance popular respect for the political process.

In Delhi Contact: Dr. N. Bhaskara Rao/Mr. Naveen Surapaneni
Ph: 6867348, 6864020,6851660/6522244/55
In Hyderabad Contact : Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan
Tel: 3350778, 3350790; Fax: 3350783
 

Annexure
The organizations represented are based in various parts of the country, ranging from Delhi, Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, and West Bengal. Scores of other organizations across the country expressed their solidarity and endorsed the efforts of the group. These organizations include:

Association for Democratic Reforms Ahmedabad
AGNI Mumbai
Partners in Change Mumbai
Common Cause Delhi
MKSS Rajasthan
CERC Ahmedabad
AVARD Delhi
Lok Sevak Sangh “
PUCL “
Transparency International “
CHRI “
Citizen Alliance for promotion of responsive governance “
Centre for Civil Society “
Women’s Political Watch “
Parivartan “
Centre for Media Studies “
Public Affairs Centre Bangalore
Janaagraha “
Mysore Graahaka Parishad Karnataka
Catalyst Trust Tamil Nadu
Citizen’s Action Network “
CYSD Orissa
Concerned Citizens for Calcutta West Bengal
Foundation for Democratic Reforms Andhra Pradesh
Cooperative Development Foundation “
Lok Satta Movement “

The individuals who participated and endorsed include the following :
Shri Kuldip Nayar, MP
Shri L.C. Jain
Shri Justice Rajendra Sachar
Shri B.G. Deshmukh
Shri A.K. Venkatasubramaniam
Shri Trilochan   Sastry
Shri Ajit Ranaade
Dr. N. Bhaskara Rao
Shri S.D. Sharma
Admiral Tahliani
Dr. Manmohan Malhoutra
Professor Partha Shah
Shri Sanjay Parikh
Ms. Pinki Anand
Ms. Neena Vyas
Shri S.V. Sista
Ms. Tara Sinha
Ms. Maja Daruwala
Shri Jagadaananda
Gen. Vinod Saigal
Prof. Samuel Paul
Shri Arvind Kumar
Shri Promod Chawla
Shri A.N. Kaul
Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan
Shri Pram Chopra
Shri Shankar Ghosh
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