Subject: [nukkad] Electoral Reforms
     Date: 1 Jun 2002 13:00:52 -0000
     Organization: Mumbai Central
 

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

SOURCE : http://www.mumbai-central.com/nukkad/jun2002/msg00008.html