Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Retain secret ballot

Sir, — The proposed change in the Representation of the People Act 1951, seeking to remove the condition that a candidate for the Rajya Sabha should be an elector from one of the parliamentary constituencies in the State from where he intends to contest, is in tune with reality. However, the proposal for voting by open ballot on the plea that it would prevent horse-trading seems unseemly. The voters in this election are themselves elected representatives and to imply that they are likely to be swayed by money power would be a sad reflection on their integrity.

Secret ballot is the essence of democracy. If there could be open ballot for Rajya Sabha elections, why not have the same for the Lok Sabha elections too?

K. Ramachandra Rao,
Mysore, Karnataka

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