Primaries and their use

THE CONSULTATION papers (first set) published by the Constitution Review Commission point out the presence of a few inadequacies in our system of holding elections. A problem is the very large number of candidates, mostly frivolous, making the ballot paper unconscionably long and counting irksome. A more glaring one is that the winning candidate need not get more than 50 per cent of the votes cast. It is sufficient if he or she is ``the first to fly past the post''. As a result we have been ruled by parties which had more votes polled against them rather than for them. To arrive at a choice more truly representing the people's mood, a run-off election has been suggested where the entire electorate will be given a chance to choose between the first two successful candidates of the main election. A clean winner will no doubt emerge but the cost will be high in terms of money as well as time. There is an oblique reference to primaries elsewhere but no details are given. However, it appears that a system of primaries, properly developed, can dispose of these two problems and two more viz. equal opportunity to women and making MP/MLA look after the constituency more than at present. The details of such a proposal are given below:

Before the main election takes place, a preliminary election may be held, called the primaries, to reduce the very large number of candidates applying to a smaller and manageable number. The electoral college for the primaries will be the panchayat and local board presidents. Where a constituency is totally or partly within a city the corresponding ward councillors will be part of the primary's electorate.

When an election is announced all the recognised parties should announce the names of their candidates and apply by a stipulated date. Independents also will be allowed to apply and that should take care of unrecognised parties. The recognised parties may put up two candidates, one male and one female. Women will thus get the same chance as men.

All the members of the primary electorate should meet at a time and place as stipulated by the election officer to take part in the primary election. Secure arrangements should be made by the police and election officer to bring the electoral members to the venue as there is likelihood of intimidation and kidnapping. If for any reason - like serious illness - a member is unable to attend, he or she may send a proxy with instructions. A secret ballot will then be conducted among this ``primary'' electorate. The ballot paper will contain the names of all the applicants. The party and the party symbol will also be shown. Each member should be asked to choose two candidates only and not more.

This ``primary'' voting should be capable of being conducted within two hours. The counting should start immediately thereafter. The results should also be announced immediately after the count is over.

Second list

Thereafter a second list should be prepared where the votes of a party will be determined by adding up the votes secured by its male and female candidates. Of these two, the one, man or woman, who contributed more to the party's tally will be considered the party's candidate for the general election. In this list the names of the party candidates as well as the names of the independents will be arranged according to the votes secured. The first two (or three) scorers will alone be eligible to be candidates for the main elections. Keeping only the first two names will be logical. However, keeping three will remove heartburns in case the votes of the second and the third are very close. Three is also felt to offer a sufficiently wide choice to the general electorate. More than three will create needless problems in choosing a clear winner in the general election.

The general election will then be held and the procedure will be the same as is obtaining now. All registered voters in a constituency will be eligible to vote. The number of candidates will be two (or three).

If the number is two, there will be no difficulty in determining who the winner is as one is bound to get more than 50 per cent of the valid votes polled. It must be a very rare occasion when both get an equal number. In such a case or in the case of three candidates where none gets 50 per cent or more of the valid votes cast, a run-off election becomes necessary. This election may be held immediately after the results of the general election are announced and on the same day and the electorate will be the same as for a primary election. The run-off election also will be through secret ballot. The candidates will be the first two scorers in the general election. The members of the electorate should be kept at the venue of counting, safe and secure from influence peddling, and ready for an immediate run-off election. Whoever is the winner will represent the constituency in the legislature/Parliament.

Equal chance for women

Several advantages accrue from the primaries. Democracy is reflected in the choice of candidates for a constituency. Feudalism by way of nomination from the top will be at a discount. Women get an equal chance as men in the beginning. Afterwards they have to come up by merit. They need not walk on reservation crutches which is now opposed by BC and OBC parties. These parties need not be unduly perturbed if the women candidates they put up are not sufficiently savvy politically. For the party's standing for the final depends on the total of the votes polled by the male and female candidates and if the female candidate does not garner a sufficient number it may be presumed that the votes have gone to the male representative of the party. Primary elections are an inexpensive way of disposing of the large number of frivolous independents, dummy candidates, etc.

The principle of a primary electorate can also be applied to implement Jaya Prakash Narayan's idea of withdrawing confidence in the person elected, if he or she fails in the discharge of duties - or resorts to unbecoming and obstructive behaviour inside the legislature. The electorate may meet once a year and review the quality of working of their representative. If 75 per cent of the electorate are not satisfied with his or her performance, the representative may be recalled and the seat declared vacant. The elected representative will thereby be kept on toes and will not forget the constituency after being elected.

V. RAMANATHAN

General Manager (Retd.), Railways

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Features
Previous : Honesty in politics
Next     : Atrophy of institutions?