P1: Twin Nominations in Election
[GS2] Q. List the provisions related to Twin nomination in the RPA Act and examine the need for reforms in it. (100 words)
Provisions in RPA:
- Section 33: Candidate can contest from two Constituencies.
- Section 70: He has to give up one seat, if he wins both.
Misuse of Sec.33 & 70:
- To increase the odds of winning, some candidates contest from two seats.
- But if and when he wins, he has to vacate one.
- This results in a by-election for vacated seat, wastage of manpower & public-money, and erosion of votersā faith & interest in electoral process.
- Therefore, Twin nomination is against the fundamental principles of representative democracy.
Suggested reforms:
- Repeal the provision of twin nomination from RPA Act OR
- Make the candidate bear entire cost of by-election.
~110 words.
P2: Primaries Method for nominating candidates
- (GS2) Comparing Constitution: Examine the merits & demerits of replacing first past to post method with primaries method in Indian elections.
- (Interview question) What do you understand by Rahul Gandhi’s “Primaries” method for giving tickets? Why does it work well in USA but fails in India?
Primaries method = a way to shortlisting the contestants. There are 4 types of primary election methods in USA, with difference in each state. But, I am taking the two most common:
Closed primary election
- Only āKaryakartaā (Party-workers) can vote for candidates among their own party.
- The highest voted candidate then contest for run-off election (against other party)..
- Suppose, Manish Tewari, Kapil Sibbal and Sheila Dixit want to contest from Chandani Chowk. Then Congi workers (from this area), will do internal-voting.
- if Sibbal gets max votes of local Congi workers, then he will get ticket from this Chandni Chowk. (And fight against BJP, AAP candidates= at that time, entire junta will come to vote).
- Benefit: increases internal democracy in a party.
Open primary election
- Everyone in the area, can vote for all candidates in that area. (This is only for shortlisting the āBESTā candidate from each party.)
- The highest voted candidates from each party then proceed to run-off election. e.g. Sibbal among congies, Harshwardhan among BJP and Kerjiwal among AAP.
- Benefit: reduces the chances of reduce the chances of hung parliament or coalition government. because ānon-seriousā candidates are eliminated.
Rahulbabaās #EPICFAIL
- Congress party Vice President Rahul Gandhi had decided to give tickets to Congi aspirants via (Closed) primary method. But first he wanted to test this method at few Constituencies, including Vadodara in Gujarat.
- One Mr. Narendra Ravat won primaries election in Vadodara. So he should be given Congi ticket for this seat.
- But then Modi himself decided to āTwinā contest from here=> Ravat replced by Madhusudan Mistry.
Anyways names not important- just taking them for explanation. Million dollar question is, WHY primary method works in USA but failed in India (despite Rahulbabaās best intention for internal democracy within Congress)?
Works in USA because | EPICFAIL in India because |
---|---|
|
|
USA is wealthy and not as populous as India. They can afford this game. |
|
USA follows personality based politics. āFace/character/persona/policiesā of an individual Candidate matters. |
|
Visit Mrunal.org/Polity for entire Archive of Polity articles published so far.
The reasons under section Rahulbabaās #EPICFAIL of primaries in India does not look rational. Answer does not have any valid reasons. I am not saying Primaries system is successful in India. But the reasons like “no āinternalā competition within party”, two elections are looking irrational as this is going to be a internal party voting.
Sir I need current affairs of feb and jan month of 2014. Which I did nt find in mrunal… can please forwad the links..
Sir I need current affairs of feb and jan month of 2014. Which I did nt find in mrunal… can u please forwad the links..
Sir, plz give me an article about simple majority vote advantages and dis….
Section 70: He has to give up one seat, if he wins both.
Within 14 days…By election within 6 months
THIS ARTICLE IS SO USEFUL FOR THE IAS ASPIRANTS.
Thanks for providing such platform . I knew about mrunal.org today it’s awesome for civil services aspirant.
http://indiankanoon.org/doc/6155772/ – MANUAL SCAVENGING
What is the rationale behind introducing the twin nomination system?