ENHANCING REPRESENTATION, FOR A JUST ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Source: The Hindu
For Prelims: Delimitation, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, federalism, Population growth
For Mains: General Studies 2: Delimitation- Challenges and Opportunities in Promoting Federalism
Highlights of the Article
Delimitation Commission
MP Representation
Promoting Federalism
Benefits of increasing Rajya Sabha seats to states
Context
An Indian Member of Parliament (MP) is said to represent 2.5 million citizens, on
average. In comparison, a U.S. House of Representatives member typically represents
approximately 7,00,000 citizens. Similarly, in Pakistan, a member of the National Assembly is a representative of approximately 6,00,000 citizens, while the ratio in Bangladesh is closer to approximately 5,00,000 citizens. In this year so far, India has around 4,126 Members of the Legislative Assembly, 543 Lok Sabha MPs and 245 Rajya Sabha MPs.
average. In comparison, a U.S. House of Representatives member typically represents
approximately 7,00,000 citizens. Similarly, in Pakistan, a member of the National Assembly is a representative of approximately 6,00,000 citizens, while the ratio in Bangladesh is closer to approximately 5,00,000 citizens. In this year so far, India has around 4,126 Members of the Legislative Assembly, 543 Lok Sabha MPs and 245 Rajya Sabha MPs.
UPSC EXAM NOTES ANALYSIS:
1. About Delimitation
Delimitation in India refers to the process of redrawing the boundaries of parliamentary and assembly constituencies to ensure a fair and equitable representation of the population. The primary objective is to address demographic changes and maintain a balance in the distribution of seats, preventing malapportionment.
- The delimitation process in India is guided by specific provisions in the Constitution. Articles 81, 82, 170, and 330 deal with the representation of states and union territories in the Lok Sabha (House of the People), State Legislative Assemblies, and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
- The Delimitation Commission is constituted by the President of India and is tasked with redrawing the boundaries of constituencies. The commission is an independent body that operates at both the national and state levels.
- The number of seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies was frozen until the first Census after 2026, as per the 84th Amendment Act of the Constitution. This freeze aimed to delay delimitation due to ongoing family planning policies.
- The delimitation process relies on population data obtained from the decennial census. The most recent census data is used to determine the number of seats allocated to each state or union territory.
- The primary objective of delimitation is to ensure that constituencies have a roughly equal number of voters, promoting the principle of "one person, one vote." It also considers factors such as geographical features, administrative convenience, and the interests of marginalized communities.
- Delimitation Acts are enacted to provide the legal framework for the process. These acts define the procedures, criteria, and timelines for the Delimitation Commission to carry out its work.
- The creation of new states or changes in the boundaries of existing states may necessitate delimitation. The State Reorganization Commission set up in 1953, played a crucial role in creating linguistic states and union territories.
- Delimitation helps avoid malapportionment, where certain constituencies have significantly larger or smaller populations, leading to unequal representation.
- Delimitation can have political implications as changes in constituency boundaries may impact the electoral landscape. Political parties and stakeholders often closely monitor and participate in the delimitation process.
2. MP Representation
- MP Representation is crucial for ensuring a fair and democratic electoral system in India. The delimitation process, which involves redrawing the boundaries of electoral constituencies, plays a significant role in shaping MP Representation.
- Delimitation is the process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral constituencies to ensure that each constituency has an approximately equal number of voters. This process is carried out by the Delimitation Commission of India, a high-powered body appointed by the President of India.
- The delimitation process has a direct impact on MP Representation. By ensuring that each constituency has an approximately equal number of voters, delimitation helps to ensure that each vote has equal weight and that the voices of all citizens are heard in the Parliament.
- Delimitation also has an indirect impact on political representation in India. The boundaries of constituencies can be drawn in a way that favours one political party or group over another. This is known as gerrymandering.
- Gerrymandering can occur when the Delimitation Commission is not impartial or when the commission is subject to political pressure. Gerrymandered constituencies can give one political party an unfair advantage in elections, making it more difficult for other parties to win seats in the Parliament.
- To ensure that delimitation is fair and does not favour any one political party, the Delimitation Commission must be impartial and independent. The commission must also be transparent in its decision-making process and must be accountable to the public.
3. Promoting federalism
- Our electoral system must be reformed. Federalism needs to be promoted (past decades of centralisation have impacted Centre-State relations), and we need to give States a better voice and a platform to represent their interests.
- The Rajya Sabha can play this role; however, it is currently elected by State legislatures, giving disproportionately more representation to larger/more populous States.
- Constitutional reform can be pursued to give each state the same number of Rajya Sabha MPs.
- At the same time, direct elections for Rajya Sabha MPs should be promoted while ensuring that a domicile requirement is added and stringently adhered to.
- Proportional representation can also be considered, especially for the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections.
- In Australia, lower-house elections have voters rank candidates on an alternative preference ballot if a candidate does not win a majority of votes in the first round, the weakest candidate is eliminated, with their votes redistributed to the next preferred candidate.
- This goes on until there is a clear majority behind a candidate. In France, a double ballot system is conducted for National Assembly elections; if no candidate wins in the first round, the second round sees only candidates with over 1/8th of total votes in the prior round competing.
- India’s first-past-the-post system may ensure quicker election results. But still, it does ensure that a legislator often represents a constituency without a majority of votes.
4. Benefits of increasing Rajya Sabha seats to states
There are several potential benefits to increasing Rajya Sabha seats for states in India. These benefits include:
- With more Rajya Sabha seats, smaller states would have a greater voice in the national legislature. This would help to ensure that the interests of all states are considered in national decision-making.
- Increasing Rajya Sabha seats would strengthen India's federal structure by giving states more power and representation at the national level.
- An increase in Rajya Sabha seats could help to improve the regional balance in the national legislature. This would ensure that no single region dominates the national political scene.
- With more Rajya Sabha seats, there would be more accountability for state governments. This is because state governments would have to answer to a larger number of Rajya Sabha MPs, who are elected by the state legislatures.
- An increase in Rajya Sabha seats would create more opportunities for political participation. This is because there would be more seats to contest for, which would encourage more people to get involved in politics.
- Malapportionment is the situation where the number of representatives from a state does not accurately reflect the state's population. Increasing Rajya Sabha seats would help to reduce malapportionment by ensuring that all states have a more equal share of seats.
- Increasing Rajya Sabha seats would help to strengthen India's democracy by giving all states a greater voice in the national legislature.
5. Conclusion
The importance of enhancing local democratic representation to strengthen India's democracy. It proposes direct elections for mayors in all census towns and empowering mayors with decision-making authority over critical urban functions. These measures, along with the proposed reforms to the national and state-level electoral systems, could help alleviate the concerns of citizens from various parts of India and contribute to a more just and representative democracy.
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Mains Practice Questions
1. Explain the constitutional provisions guiding the delimitation process in India. How does the Delimitation Commission contribute to maintaining equitable representation? (250 Words)
2. Discuss the significance of MP representation in ensuring a fair and democratic electoral system in India. How does the delimitation process contribute to shaping MP representation? (250 Words)
3. Examine the potential benefits of increasing Rajya Sabha seats for states in India. How would this contribute to strengthening federalism and addressing regional imbalances in political representation? (250 Words)
4. Identify challenges in implementing electoral reforms to enhance democratic representation. Propose solutions to address these challenges and ensure a more just and representative democracy. (250 Words)
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