The recent declaration of the Lok Sabha election results has once again highlighted the implications of India’s First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system. The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 seats with a 43.3% vote share, while the Opposition bloc INDIA won 234 seats with a 41.6% vote share.
Despite their significant vote share, regional parties and independents garnered only 16 seats. This outcome has sparked a renewed debate on the effectiveness and fairness of the FPTP system and whether India should consider transitioning to a Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system.
India’s Electoral System: First Past the Post
India uses the First Past the Post (FPTP) system for its elections to the Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies. In this system, the candidate with the most votes in a constituency wins.
- Comparison with Other Democracies: This method is also used in other democracies like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.
- Advantages of FPTP: The main benefit of the FPTP system is its simplicity, making it practical for a large country like India. It also tends to provide more stability to the government. The ruling party or coalition can secure a majority in the Lok Sabha or Legislative Assembly without needing more than 50% of the votes across all constituencies.
- Disadvantages of FPTP: However, FPTP can lead to imbalances in representation. Political parties may receive more or fewer seats than their actual share of the vote. For example, in the first three elections after independence, the Congress party won around 75% of the seats in the Lok Sabha with only 45-47% of the vote.
Understanding Proportional Representation
- Definition and Mechanism: Proportional Representation (PR) is an electoral system where parties gain seats in proportion to their share of the vote. The most common form is ‘party list PR,’ where voters select a party, not individual candidates. Parties receive seats based on their overall vote percentage, provided they surpass a minimum threshold, usually 3-5%.
- Hypothetical Examples: In states like Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh, the NDA won almost all the seats under the FPTP system despite not having a majority vote share. Under PR, the INDIA bloc would have secured a significant number of seats. Similarly, in Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal would have received representation in proportion to its vote share, unlike under the current system. In Tamil Nadu, the NDA and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam would also have gained seats according to their vote percentages.
- Criticisms of PR: The main criticism of PR is the potential for political instability, as it may be difficult for any party or coalition to achieve a clear majority. This could lead to frequent changes in government. Additionally, PR could encourage the formation of numerous small parties based on regional, caste, religious, or linguistic lines, promoting divisive voting patterns.
- Addressing the Criticisms: However, the existing FPTP system has not prevented the rise of parties based on these considerations. Setting a minimum vote threshold for parties to gain seats can mitigate this issue.
Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR)
To balance stability with fair representation, the Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system can be considered. In MMPR, some candidates are elected through FPTP in their constituencies, while additional seats are allocated based on the overall vote percentage of each party. This hybrid approach aims to combine the benefits of both systems.
International Practices in Electoral Systems
Alternative Vote in Australia
Australia uses the alternative (preferential) vote for lower-house elections. Voters rank candidates in order of preference. If no candidate wins a majority of first-preference votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. Their votes are then redistributed according to the second preferences on the ballots. This process continues until one candidate achieves a majority.
Double-Ballot System in France
France employs a double-ballot system for National Assembly elections. If no candidate wins a majority in the first round, a second round is held. Only candidates who received at least one-eighth of the votes in the first round can compete in the second round. The candidate with the most votes in the second round wins. Often, candidates who qualify for the second round may withdraw and support one of the leading candidates.
Party List PR System
Several countries use the party list Proportional Representation (PR) system. This includes:
- Presidential Democracies: Brazil and Argentina
- Parliamentary Democracies: South Africa, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain
Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR)
Germany and New Zealand use the Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system.
- Germany: The Bundestag has 598 seats. Half (299 seats) are filled through the FPTP system in constituencies. The other half are allocated based on party vote percentages, provided the party receives at least 5% of the vote.
- New Zealand: The House of Representatives has 120 seats. Sixty percent (72 seats) are filled through the FPTP system in territorial constituencies. The remaining 40% (48 seats) are allocated to parties based on their vote share, again with a minimum threshold of 5%.
Balancing Stability and Representation
The MMPR system could be effective in India, providing both stability and fair representation. It combines the simplicity of FPTP with the fairness of PR, ensuring that all parties have a voice according to their vote share while maintaining governmental stability.
The Way Forward for Electoral Reform in India
Law Commission’s Recommendations
The Law Commission, in its 170th report titled “Reform of the Electoral Laws” (1999), recommended the introduction of the Mixed Member Proportional Representation (MMPR) system on an experimental basis. It suggested filling 25% of Lok Sabha seats through a PR system by increasing the total number of seats. While the report proposed considering the entire nation as a single unit for PR, it would be more suitable to apply this at the State/UT level, in line with India’s federal structure.
Also Read | Lessons From New Zealand’s MMP For Indian Electoral Reforms
Delimitation and Seat Allocation
The delimitation exercise for increasing the number of Lok Sabha seats is due after the first Census conducted post-2026. The uneven population growth across regions over the last five decades poses a challenge. Allocating seats solely based on population might undermine federal principles, potentially causing discontent in states that might lose representation.
Also Read | Everything You Wanted To Know About Delimitation
Proposed Implementation of MMPR
To address this, during the delimitation exercise, the MMPR system could be introduced for the new seats or for at least 25% of the total seats from each State/UT. This approach can help mitigate concerns from southern, northeastern, and smaller northern states, preventing domination by larger states through the FPTP system alone.
Growing Consensus for Change
There is an increasing agreement among citizens and political parties in India that the current FPTP system needs replacement. A Proportional Representation (PR) system is seen as a viable alternative, promising a more equitable representation of all political parties based on their vote share.