Proportional Representation: A Path to Fairer Political Representation in India

What is Proportional Representation?

Proportional Representation (PR) is an electoral system where political parties gain seats in alignment with the proportion of votes they receive. Unlike the First Past the Post (FPTP) system, where the candidate with the highest votes in a constituency secures victory, PR offers a more equitable approach to political representation. This system ensures that the distribution of seats in the legislature mirrors the overall vote share of each party, promoting a fairer democratic process.

Countries Using Proportional Representation

Various countries have adopted PR, reflecting diverse political landscapes:

• Presidential Democracies: Brazil, Argentina
• Parliamentary Democracies: South Africa, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain
• Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR): Germany, New Zealand

Will PR Work in India?

Introducing PR in a vast and diverse nation like India presents both challenges and opportunities:

• Advantages: It would offer fairer representation for smaller parties, minimizing discrepancies between the share of votes and the number of seats won.
• Challenges: The implementation of PR might lead to political instability, making it difficult for any one party to achieve a majority. Additionally, it could foster the emergence of more parties based on regional, caste, religious, and linguistic identities. However, this fragmentation is not entirely mitigated by the current FPTP system.

What is Mixed Member Proportional Representation?

Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) integrates aspects of both FPTP and PR:

• FPTP Component: A portion of candidates is elected through the FPTP system from designated constituencies.
• PR Component: Additional seats are assigned to parties based on their overall vote share, enhancing proportional representation.

Example: In Germany’s MMPR system, 50% of the seats are filled via FPTP, while the remaining 50% are allocated according to party vote share, ensuring a balanced representation.

Example: In New Zealand’s MMPR system, 60% of the seats are filled through FPTP, with 40% allocated based on party vote share, promoting a blend of local representation and proportionality.

Way Forward for India

The Law Commission of India, in its 170th report, has proposed experimenting with MMPR:

• Proposal: Introduce MMPR by allocating 25% of Lok Sabha seats through PR, which would involve increasing the overall number of seats.
• Implementation: Apply PR at the State/UT level to honor India’s federal structure.

Conclusion

Implementing PR or MMPR could lead to a more equitable representation in India’s diverse political arena. While the FPTP system is known for its simplicity and stability, exploring a mixed system could strike a balance between representation and stability, addressing the disparities inherent in regional and political contexts.