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> Title: Further discussion on the motion for consideration of the Electoral Reforms Commission Bill, 2006.

MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: The House shall now take up Item No.47.

Prof. M. Ramadass – Not present.

SHRI KIREN RIJIJU (ARUNACHAL WEST): Sir, I stand here to support the Bill moved by Shri C.K. Chandrappan regarding Electoral Reforms Commission.  I whole-heartedly congratulate him for bringing such an important Bill and also support the good intentions of bringing this Bill which I feel the Government should give a serious consideration and take necessary steps for the much needed electoral reforms in this country.

          I stand to support the proposal of my colleague, Shri C.K. Chandrappan for appointment of an Electoral Reforms Commission. Regarding electoral reforms, we have been discussing this issue for the last several years. India is a very big democracy and free and fair election is an essential ingredient of an effective democracy. We have vast experience of elections. Already, 14 times elections to Lok Sabha had been conducted very successfully in our country. In several State Assemblies, elections were held more than 14 times. In between the House was to be dissolved. Hence, elections were held more frequently than with the gap of five years. During this period of last 60 years of our experience in democracy, we find there are several problems which we are facing in conducting a free and fair election in our country.[m45]            We need better electoral system than the present simple majority electoral system. Maybe a proportional representation will be more helpful than the present system. We need reservation for women at the earliest. We need to liberate the elections from the criminalisation. There is a need for the State funding of the elections. The Electoral Reforms Commission, if appointed, should go into the possibility of recalling system.

          Finally, electoral reforms alone will not make democracy responsible and dynamic and acceptable to the people.  The electoral reforms has to be combined with administrative reforms.  I accept other suggestions in the Bill  like there should be proportional reservation to women, various groups, etc. The only thing I want to oppose was, the proportional representation election system whereby parties go to the polls in the name of parties and once  they found as to how much votes they have got, they choose the candidates. I think, in India it should never happen.  I have already told that there is a huge gap between the people and the elected representatives. If  this proportional representation system comes to India, that will further increase  the gap between the people and the representatives  of the people because a new mechanism will  come where whoever wants to become a Member of Parliament or Legislative Assembly will  not go to the people to convince them that he is a good person but they will go to its leader and  it would become a different kind of lobbying  and I think, that is not good for India.  India should have a direct voting system where the candidates should go directly to the people, explain what he is and he should commit to them. People should always have the right to stop and ask him, I have voted for you, and you have not done this.  I think that is the way Indian democracy to be, at least for the moment, Madam.

          The reason for this despair is evident.  Corrupt practices and fraudulent methods adopted during elections cause this hopelessness. 

          In order to reform our election process several committees have been set up over the years.  Electoral reforms have been the moot point all along.  Many reports have been submitted to the Government. All the recommendations found in all those reports are still waiting to be translated in the action. All of them have been kept in abeyance. Tarkunde Committee report was submitted in 1970.  Goswami Committee report followed suit.  Then came Inderjeet Committee report on electoral reforms.  All of them have been left unattended.  At this juncture, our esteemed colleague Shri. C.K.Chandrappan has moved a Bill in this House to legislate for certain electoral reforms. I welcome the effort put in by him at a time when people are losing faith in democracy.  This is a timely move.