Karnataka Conference Report

Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India (CERI) Karnataka Conference 2009 09 and 10 November 2009 It was once again a big history in the making. The Karnataka conference of CERI (Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India) that was held at the Alliance Francaise in Bangalore can be well described as a fitting success. This Conference was marked by some special cookies. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

The number of women participants equaled that of men The voice and participation of women outclassed that of men Most women who had come were elected members There were a total of 225 participants but the budget was well managed Resource persons and participants included intellectuals, academicians, politicians, elected members, civil society leaders and NGO leaders. All the participants arrived on time and left only at the end of the Conference never allowing the Hall to look depleted or partially empty. This was amazing as generally people tend to walk out and come back. Resource persons stayed put till the end of the conference. The usually absorbing sessions of M C Raj were spread out into both the days. This was a new experiment and it worked better than when he continuously lectured for three hours. The presence of Mr Mahima Patel, son of Former Chief Minister of Karnataka made the first Congress presence in CERI Conference though we had earlier another Congress leader on CERI Day.

The Conference opened in the morning of 09 November exactly as planned. Dr. C.S. Dwarakanath, the Chairperson of the Backward Classes Commission of Karnataka inaugurated it with the sound of Dalit Drums. Mrs. B.T. Lalitha Naik, Former Minister of Karnataka was the Chief Guest. Both of them dwelt on caste as a strong determinant factor in the governance of India. They asserted that the present electoral system and democracy in India are not doing the type of good that are needed for these sections of society. India is in dire need of changing its electoral system if democracy has to survive in India. They hailed the timely intervention of REDS in spearheading a Campaign of this sort at the right time in the history of independent India. They pledged their continued support to the Campaign. Reflection From first Panel Panelists: Mr. Manohar Eleavarthi (Working among Sexual Minorities), Ms. Pushpavalli, Former Deputy Mayor of Mysore) and Mrs. Jyothiraj What is the quality of representation that we get even if we get a representation?

1

State financing of elections is a must. Should there be salary for elected representatives? Today all parties are controlled by rich people. Therefore, if there is salary for elected representatives it may not make much sense. However, there are many poor candidates who cannot afford to do politics with the type of money they have. Therefore, fixing a salary will definitely help quite a few poor people to come into electoral politics. Is Proportionate Electoral System a break from the past? It is actually the next phase of the praxis of Indian democracy. We should pursue this dream. The people of India have preserved India as a democracy while all her neighbors have practiced dictatorship. We have to make our democracy more meaningful within our country. Reflections From Second Panel Panelists: Mr. Surendra, (Official delegate of the Communist Party of India), Mrs. Anita cheria, Open Space and Prof. E P Menon Proportionate Electoral System is the most urgent need in India. Election Commissions have been conducting elections at different levels. But unfortunately the elected representatives are not fulfilling their obligations. People are disillusioned not only with electoral system but also with democracy itself. Common people should find a place in the parliament as representative of people. But many capitalists and criminals are finding place in our parliament. Caste and communal factors seriously threaten our country. How can the election commission bring order? Caste has been a major factor in elections till now. But there were also elections based on the welfare of the people in 50s and 60s. In 1962 M C Narasimhan was elected from KGF as a candidate supported by all working class irrespective of their caste and religion. Congress brought in caste. Politics has become an essential means of making huge money. Communalism is the byproduct of liberalism, privatization etc. CPI proposed State funding of elections in 1965 itself. The funding should be based on the number of candidates each party fields. CPI has also put forward the PR system. Mr. Seshan was very strong. The right to recall the corrupt and the inefficient must be integrated as a movement. Criminals must be disqualified and they should be arrested and jailed. Disqualified candidate may put up a proxy. Even this should be prevented.

2

Present electoral system is not able to deliver goods to the people. The need of the hour is to make the commoner the representative of the common people. Even Britain has started rethinking on its electoral system. I appreciate the organizers of this Conference. The need is to initiate a mass movement. Dalits, Adivasis, women and unorganized workers should come together. This is the stand of our party. Our party stands in support of the CERI campaign. We are on a right path for a cultural revolution in this country. We selected a young woman, Miss Archana to lead this Movement in this country. It is a clear indication that this country will soon see a cultural revolution. Do we really have democracy in this country? Yes, we have it at certain level and we do not have it at certain levels. People are proud that we have governed this country for more than sixty years. But then the first sixty-two years have marked us as a slave nation. We are still slaves in our mentality. We are still singing a poem blindly as our national anthem. This poem surrendered our national pride to the British. Election is a part of democracy. It is not the whole of democracy. The concept of democracy came to India may be seven decades ago. Are we as a nation fit for democracy? A democracy should be horizontal and not vertical as India stands today. At the top hardly 20% of people have everything in this country. Can we ask who owns India, who controls India, who decides about India and who enjoys India? A society must recognize you and give all facilities to you as elected representative. We have multi-millionaires as representatives of the people. What can we expect from them? 80% of our elected members have one common interest. That is to make as much money as possible in a short span of time. If his continues non-violence will be desirable but violence will become inevitable in this country. Democracy today is a big catchword imposed by 20% of the people on 80% of the people in the world. Indian spiritual traders are carrying forward this democracy. Why are elections conducted? We need a system of governance. Democracy is a good system. There are many indigenous forms of governance. Tribal people come together to make decisions. When we speak of Human rights we speak of equality. In law this is much easier than in practice. This is the same all over the world. Even among men it is white men who take decisions. Control is exercised mostly by men.

3

Through Proportionate Electoral System we can try to governance in our country more horizontal. This why PR system becomes very relevant. Sure we have to be proud of Indian democracy but it is inadequate and we have to strive to improve it. Even in governance we want to be consumers. There is a problem here. Democracy is alive in our country because of the poor who go to vote. If we are unable to take any interest in democracy then there is something wrong with the system itself. Even not voting is a statement. In PR all these statements must be recorded and measured. Within our present electoral system we have reservation. It is only recognition of a problem. We often say that Dalits are not representing Dalits and women are not representing women. This is a manifestation of a flaw in the system. We should find a better system of governance. Reflections From Third Panel Started with rebuffing EP Menon’s statement that violence is inevitable. Violence cannot go together with democracy. He cautioned people against the intrusion of violence into democracy. PR is not totally new. It is the progression of the existing democracy in India. It is the next step. All surrounding countries do not have democracy. But India has democracy with adult franchise. Our electoral system is complex system. In the election to the President and Vice President of India it is not FPTP in India. Our common people have not only preserved democracy but have also nurtured it. This is a big revelation. All electoral systems have their defects. We need to rectify them. We need to increase the representation of all people. It is in this context that PR system becomes an immediate need. I look at it as a need within the growth process of Indian democracy. What happens to the marginal votes in the Proportionate system? We need to introduce transferrable voting system within the PR system. We speak of parties in PR system. How about individuals who want to contest elections? If the individual does not have the democratic right to contest then I shall go to the extent of rejecting this system. There is all possibility that the PR system will succeed and it should succeed and we should all make it succeed.

4

Internal party democracy will be much enhanced by PR system. The present situation of political parties in India has to be condemned. If we do these the electoral system in India will be much better and more meaningful. All of us participate in democracy. But the quality of participation has to be qualified. There was the Women’s Bill. It took more than ten years to come to the Parliament. But nobody wanted to pass it. Basically there was a fear that men would have to go back home if women got their representation. There is personal equality and public equality, If we do not practice equality personally we shall not practice it in public. The present electoral system should go. That people are defeated by five or ten votes is a clear manifestation that there is a problem with the representation in this system. There is a need for representation of tribal groups most of whom have no scope for representation in the present system. We need to also think of what will happen if some powerful caste groups win because of their numerical strength within the PR system. What is the way out to gain representation for all people? There is a fear that fascist groups may gain entry through the PR system. The governments see to it that laws are made without much discussion. We cannot strictly call India as a nation because of its complexity. At the end of all deliberations action plans were brought out in group discussions and an Ad Hoc State Committee of 38 people was set up. Significant in this is the fact that 26 of the members of the State Committee are women and only 12 are men. The leaders of Manipur are determined that Manipur should lead the way for ushering in Proportionate Electoral System in India. But Karnataka seems to be emerging as a strong contender for this position. Ultimately it will be good for Indian democracy.

5