Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

`Introduce proportional representation'

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, MAY 9. Even as the election for the 14th Lok Sabha is under way, the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for introduction of proportional representation and urged all political parties to give their concurrence for the changeover. It has also suggested simultaneous elections to Parliament, State Assemblies and local bodies throughout the country.

The chamber said the President, the Supreme Court and the Election Commission could support the `indispensable change' in the election system. Its president, S. Rethinavelu, said the present process did not reflect the true wishes of the electorate, "as there is no correlation between the total number of votes and the number of seats won by parties". Under the proportional representation system, the seats would be allotted on the basis of the total number of votes secured by each party.

Also, in the current system the results did not reflect the correct perception of the electorate in both Parliament and Assemblies. "It cannot be described as a fair mandate because the party which gets 28 per cent of the total votes will get 180 seats and another with 25 per cent of votes gets only 20 seats'', Mr. Rethinavelu said in a press statement.

He suggested that the total number of votes secured by each party be the base for calculating the number of seats. Further, only national and State- level parties should be allowed to contest. The ballot papers should carry only symbols of the recognised parties and not the names of candidates.

The chamber pleaded for urgent steps to prevent incongruous alliances during the elections. A nationwide debate could be initiated to usher in a change in the system, the chamber said.

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