Date:17/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/17/stories/2008061755590801.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Electoral system

This refers to the article “Does India need a different electoral system?” (June 13). It is to the credit of the simple majority system that we have been ruled by a homogeneous group of politicians belonging to either a single party or a front. It has provided a semblance of stability over the years.

Any attempt to bring in the proportional representation system, based on the percentage of votes polled by political parties, will create havoc as every fringe group will try to exploit the system by forming a party.

P.E. Muthu,

Mumbai

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Our electoral system was perhaps based on the assumption that all voters would cast their votes and that there would be only a few parties contesting the election. But today, things are entirely different. About 60 per cent of the people exercise their franchise. Votes are split among various candidates and the person who gets the highest number of votes is declared elected, even if he secures just about 30 per cent of the vote. Which means the minority is deemed to be the majority.

It is not fair to maintain such a faulty system. All voters should vote for all the candidates in their constituency in order of preference, allotting higher points to higher preference. The total points earned by a candidate should be the criterion for election.

J.J. Vellara,

Kozhikode

* * *

The single transferable vote system may not suit the Indian conditions. A feasible option would be to amend the Constitution providing for every political party to nominate additional members to every elected body to make it truly reflective of the people’s preferences. The nominated members may be given powers identical to those of elected members except the power to vote in no-confidence motions.

Nirmala Asokan,

Cuddalore