JOIN USThe Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India and Foundation for Advanced Management of Elections are jointly holding a day-long national seminar in the City on Saturday to discuss ways and means to bring inclusive and effective electoral system in the country that will help reduce corruption and violence during polling.
The seminar will be inaugurated by former chief justice Justice M N Venkatachalaiah.
Former chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami and former Governor of Karnataka V S Rama Devi will participate in the discussion.
Addressing a press conference here on Friday, CERI founder M C Raj said India has been holding on to the British legacy of first past the post (FPTP) electoral system, despite the fact that the country has no more a two-party democracy.
Aping American model
Some political parties are trying to force India to adopt the American model of two-party democracy. And, this is equivalent to cutting the feet in order to fit the shoes. Proportional electoral system would make Indian democracy more inclusive and governance more efficient, he said.
Raj said both CERI and FAME have been conducting brainstorming sessions across the country to explain the need to bring about a proportional representation (PR) system instead of just tinkering with the existing FPTP system.