Former Union Minister for Disinvestment Arun Shourie said that there was a need for electroral reforms in the country.
Speaking after inaugurating ‘Bharatayan,’ a celebration of India’s journey through 150 years organised by the Centre for Humanities, Manipal University, he said “true democracy can not be found in the present electoral system. As many as 99.3 per cent of the elected representatives were elected by less than 50 per cent votes. Many a times elections are won by strength of the candidates, caste, money power. Instead, it is better to elect Prime Minister and President directly.”
He said there is a need to think over changing the electoral system. He said India might have achieved economic development. But the internal and external security is at risk. Unless we bring in changes in the electoral system, we will lose all our achievements of the past 150 years, he warned.
False socialism, secularism, debasement of political institutions have resulted in the derailment of economic development of the country. 
Prasara Bharathi Chairman M V Kamath presented an overall view of the ‘Bharatayan.’ Manipal University Pro-Chancellor Dr H S Ballal welcomed the gathering.