The Hindu Business Line : A way out of divisive politics

The root cause for us not having a healthy democracy is our adoption of the British style of elections, under which the ‘first past the post’ candidate is declared elected.

— R. M. Rajarathinam

With electronic voting machines, conducting a re-poll if a candidate fails to secure over 50 per cent of the votes will neither be time consuming nor too expensive.

N. Vittal

Our politics today is identity based and is divisive. In the early years after Independence, we used to cast our votes in elections. These days, we vote for a caste. This growth of identity-based politics has been promoted by two factors.

The first was formation of linguistic States which gave a boost to linguistic identities and to that extent erosion of national identity. The second is the focus on social justice which has reduced our democracy to a quota-cracy. There is a race for reservation on various grounds such as caste, community, religion, etc.

Weakening national parties

Both these factors have resulted in the weakening of the national parties and vigorous growth of regional and caste-based parties that punch much above their weight and play a major role in running the Government. This has led to the era of coalition politics, which started in the 1990s. The latest demonstration of the clout of small and regional parties was the trust vote in Parliament on the UPA Government on July 22, 2008.

It is obvious we are not having a healthy and real democracy. The root cause of this is the British style of elections we have adopted under which the ‘first past the post’ candidate is declared elected.

The candidate who gets the maximum votes cast in the poll is successful. For example, if the percentage of voting in an election is 50 per cent of the total registered votes in the constituency, the votes polled by the winner may be 20 per cent or less than the total electorate.

In other words, the candidate who is elected represents only 20 per cent or less of the total voters in the constituency. The remaining 80 per cent or more did not vote for him. How can he be called a representative of the people in a real sense?

Proportional representation

Dr Jayaprakash Narayanan and others had suggested that an electoral system based on the principle of proportional representation would be better. Unfortunately this method of election also has problems. It may lead to the multiplication of parties and the present culture of coalition where small parties dictate terms will not disappear.

Some thinkers like Mr G. V. Ramakrishna, the former Chairman of SEBI, have been advocating another solution, that is, encouraging national parties and reducing the clout of regional parties.

They point out that under the rules for the allotment of symbols, the Election Commission has full powers. National parties are defined separately from regional parties in the rules under the Representation of the Peoples Act. The suggestion is regional parties must not be allowed to contest elections for Parliament under the same symbol for State assemblies. National parties by definition operate in more than one State can be justified for having the same symbol for contesting both assembly and parliamentary elections. The EC has not accepted this proposal and the matter is before the Supreme Court.

Run-off poll

Meanwhile, in an insightful talk in Chennai, the Chief Election Commissioner Mr N. Gopalaswami, listed inter alia changes in election rules that could be introduced on the principle that the winner must secure over 50 per cent vote to be declared elected.

In other words, if any candidate fails to secure such a majority in a poll a re-poll can be ordered where the first two candidates are asked to contest in a run-off poll. In such an election only a candidate who secures more than 50 per cent of the vote will be declared elected. This will ensure that the real democratic spirit is maintained. This process may involve additional costs but it is worth spending for bringing about true representative character in democratic elections. With electronic voting machines being used in the election process conducting run-off elections will neither be time consuming nor too expensive.

A more important benefit is that divisiveness in politics will disappear. Vote bank politics will not flourish because the candidates have to go beyond narrow caste/religious considerations to get that 50 per cent plus votes. Political parties may not accept such an amendment to the rules as it would go against their vested interests.

Amending the rules

The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) is empowered to frame the rules for a free and fair elections and any amendment to the rules will be within his powers. This could be defended in the Supreme Court.

The impact of the changed rules will be dramatic. Every candidate and party will be required to appeal to, not a small/narrow vote bank, but a larger section of the electorates. This will encourage national parties with a larger vision than narrow regional and caste-based parties.

NGOs and activists should create awareness among the people so that in these days of terrorism and other threats our democracy is strengthened, by encouraging national integration and, thereby, helping the nation achieve robust growth.

(The author, a former IAS officer, has held the posts of Chairman, Telecom Commission and Central Vigilance Commissioner. Responses to blfeedback@thehindu.co.in)