Ansari questions politics of identity over beliefs
Vice-president Mr Hamid Ansari on Thursday asked if the current electoral system encourages a politics defined by “who you are” and “where you live” rather than “what you believe in” and “what you want to achieve”? And what can be done to address the grievance of under-representation and unequal access to political power emanating from the Muslims? The data is compelling and disturbing, he observed.
Addressing a national seminar on electoral reforms organised by C. Achyatha Menon study centre and library in Thiruvanthapuram Mr Ansari questioned, what is the representative-ness of the elected representative?
“Our system works on the principle of plurality rather than of majority. Why has the electoral system of first-past-the-post to the Lower Houses of legislature produced fragmented legislatures and systemic instability since the third decade of the republic,” he asked.
Has the disproportionality between the share of votes obtained and the share of legislative seats won, eroded credibility and representativeness of our legislators? Is there merit in the suggestion that the government and the election commission conduct a careful and full examination of the introduction of a two-round system, with the second round conducted between the two leading candidates in each constituency on the day after the first round? Is the time opportune now to conduct such an examination in consultation with all political parties? The vice-president raised the issues.
He further asked how are we to overcome the implications, in terms of the principle of one person, one vote, one value, of the 84th Amendment that froze the number of seats in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies till the year 2026?
“Electoral systems are important because they translate the votes of people into legislative seats and hence into exercise of political power. Their credibility and representativeness are critical elements in bringing about stable polities that are essential for socio-economic progress. Electoral systems also have an undue influence on the evolution of party systems, their role and their cohesion.”
Post new comment