Proportional representation of political parties will ensure fair representation of all groups and hence will uplift democratic principles, said J M Lyngdoh, former Chief Election Commissioner.
Delivering the keynote address on ‘Decriminalisation of Indian electoral system’ at the quarterly lecture series organised by the Centre of Public Policy Research (CPPR) here, he said proportional representation has been favoured by more than 80 countries around the globe such as Nepal and Netherlands. Lyngdoh highlighted the weeding out of bogus voters in Andhra Pradesh. About the connection between money, power and criminalisation of politics, he said that money power in politics is criminalisation.
He wondered how money became such an important component in a poor country like India. Post-liberalisation, money power has begun playing a vital role in elections. Lyngdoh welcomed the Supreme Court’s recent judgments that will play a crucial role in reforming the process. CPPR chairman D Dhanuraj welcomed the gathering and Akash Ramakrishnan, communications associate, CPPR, proposed the vote of thanks