Left demands proportional representation

LUCKNOW: The Left parties on Monday passed a joint resolution, demanding introduction of proportional representation (PR) as the electoral system in place of the prevailing the firstpast-the-post (FPTP) system.

Some other parties, including the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Apna Dal (Krishna Patel), have also lent their support to the resolution.

The resolution was passed at a state-level conclave jointly organised by the Left parties here, marking the launch of their agitation for electoral reforms.

They also announced they will soon start holding seminars in various cities, trying to make the people feel the necessity of scrapping of the FPTP system which, according to them, had outlived its utility.

Addressing the gathering, Communist Party of India (Marxist) central politburo member Nilotpal Basu said the current electoral system did not represent the true public opinion.

“The BJP that got just 31 % votes in the Lok Sabha polls is ruling the country despite the fact that 69% people voted against it,” he said, adding, “The proportional representation system is designed in such a manner that it gives representation to all parties, castes, groups etc in proportion to their strength.” Basu also made a case for the state funding of elections.

Earlier, setting the tone for the discussion, Communist Party of India leader Girish said 89 countries already had partial or complete proportional representation electoral system. The time had come for India to switch to the same system, he said.

“The BSP did not win a single seat despite getting 20% votes because of the faulty FPTP system,” he said.

Girish demanded the Election Commission prepare a document on the change of the electoral system and call an allparty meeting to discuss the same.

He said the BJP would be out of power for good once the proportional representation system was adopted.