National workshop on parliamentary procedures

IMPHAL, March 12: A national level “Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India (CERI) for proportionate electoral system” participated by MPs and MLAs was held under the sponsorship of Karnataka based NGO, Rural Education for Development Society (REDS) from March 6 to 9, at two different places in New Delhi. The activities included a conference, solidarity meet and a workshop for MPs and MLAs.

The National co-ordinator of Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India (CERI), Dr M Nara Singh led a five member team of the state which took part in the three day program. On the last day of the program, a national workshop on Parliamentary procedures was held at the Ram Krishna Bajaj conference hall of Vishwa Yuvak Kendra (International Youth Centre).

Rajya Sabha Joint Secretary Satyanarayan Sahu and Nepal’s former Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety spoke as resource persons at the workshop.

Speaking at the workshop, Rajya Sabha Joint Secretary Satyanarayan Sahu spoke at length on various proceedings of Rajya Sabha like private member resolution, short duration discussion, question hour, zero hour etc.

Nepal’s former Chief Election Commissioner Neel Kantha Uprety in his presentation said that in the Constituent Assembly Election (CAE), the parallel mixed electoral system (FPTP and the PR) was adopted in Nepal for moving the peace process ahead. However most of the past elections in Nepal were conducted based on “First Past The Post (FPTP)" system. The parallel mixed electoral system for CAE was agreed by and between the then ruling alliance and Maoist party on the agreement to ensuing proportionality, inclusiveness and geographical representation in the election result, he said.

Originally, the parallel mixed ES and agreed on 50-50 ratios of seats to FPTP and the list PR race, he continued and said that later, some ethnic groups and regional political parties started agitations with a fresh demand for a full list PR election system which finally was negotiated with a provision of 42 percent seats to FPTP and 58 percent to list PR race with a provision of making country a single constituency for PR race. The changed in ratio also enlarged the size of CA from single member constituencies of FPTP race, 335 from list PR and 2b seats from nomination. Quota for specified groups and gender was fixed in the list PR side of election based on population of the specified group as: DALIT-13.0 percent, indigenous caste (Janajati), 37.8 percent, Madhesi 31.3 percent, backward region 4.0 percent, others 30.2 percent and women 50 percent from each of the specified groups, he said.

An unusual peculiarity to the list PR side of election was that the parties permitted to select any of the candidates as a winner from the closed list of candidates submitted to the election commission during nomination which was considered as an undemocratic system within the democratic election- Guyana and Serbia had such experiences too. Additionally, a candidate contesting in two constituencies under FPTP can be regarded as an undemocratic practice that was allowed in CAE in Nepal, he continued.

The rigorous exercise for electoral system by political parties and elites themselves with very little or no intention or imposition by international experts and professional contributed for the success of CAE. There are illustrations that elections failed in countries where a super power had hands on the design or imposition of ES. The three main political parties’ delusion of each of them expecting to do well in the CAE also contributed to some degree for the success of CAE. However, the ultimate result was not as they would have expected from it. The election result however was acceptable to all parties and resulted smooth transfer of power to the winner, he said.

EC’s trustworthiness, neutrality, transparency and participatory approach were strength for the success of CAE. In a period of 18 months EC of Nepal prepared for three elections but with a single result that constituted the CA, he added.