The themes discussed by former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, while not irrelevant, lag behind in priority for ordinary voters. Reforms need to be, first of all, targeted at keeping criminals away from the electoral scenario. If men and women of integrity are elected as representatives, issues like money power, method of appointment of Election Commissioners and EVM use can be addressed. Legislation is urgently required to empower voters with a right to recall MPs/MLAs. Similarly, a 50%+1 rule, based on voters’ list, is needed to declare a winning candidate. Empowering the None of the Above (NOTA) option is equally important. From the demarcation of constituencies to the formation of Cabinets, a sense of anarchy prevails at every step. Parliament needs to take up such serious issues to keep the spirit of democracy alive (Editorial page, “A welcome debate on electoral reforms,” July 12).
P.R.V. Raja,
Pandalam, Kerala