CPI(M) Proposes Electoral Reforms, Flags Concerns Over Delimitation and Simultaneous Polls in Meeting with Election Commission
New Delhi, May 10 — In a significant interaction with the Election Commission of India (EC) on Saturday, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) called for adopting a partial proportional representation system and raised red flags over proposed changes including delimitation and the conduct of simultaneous elections.This meeting was part of the EC’s ongoing discussions with political parties following Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s recent appointment. The CPI(M) was the third party invited for consultation.
CPI(M) Advocates Shift Towards Proportional Representation
The CPI(M) delegation — comprising general secretary MA Baby, Polit Bureau member Nilotpal Basu, and Central Secretariat member Muralidharan — advocated for an overhaul of the current first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system.“The FPTP system is becoming increasingly disconnected from popular opinion,” Baby stated, citing discrepancies between vote share and seat tally in recent elections.
Referring to past examples, the CPI(M) noted:
- In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured 282 seats with 31% of the vote, while Congress managed only 44 seats with 19.3%.
- In 2024, the BJP increased its vote share to 36.56% and won 240 seats. Congress, with 21.9% vote share (a 1.89% increase), gained 99 seats.
Concerns Over Delimitation and Simultaneous Elections
The CPI(M) strongly opposed the ongoing discussion around "one nation, one election", terming it an attempt to build a "centralised unitarian State". It also voiced concern over the proposed delimitation exercise and the process being employed to implement it.Selection of Election Commissioners Under Scrutiny
The CPI(M) also criticized the new law governing the appointment of election commissioners. It argued that the selection committee — comprising the Prime Minister, a Union Minister nominated by the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition — deviates from the Supreme Court’s earlier directive to include the Chief Justice of India in the selection process.“This composition ensures the executive's dominance and undermines the independence and impartiality of the Election Commission,” the CPI(M) warned.
Campaign Finance, State Funding, and VIP Privileges
The Left party expressed serious concerns about unregulated political spending. It referenced an Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) report stating that 93% of MPs elected in 2024 were crorepatis.The CPI(M) also pushed for partial state funding of elections, echoing recommendations made by committees led by Dinesh Goswami and Indrajit Gupta. The aim, they argued, is to provide a “financial floor” for candidates and parties to operate on a level playing field.
It further highlighted that there is currently no ceiling on political parties’ expenditures and that the cap on candidates’ spending applies only during the nomination-to-results window — ignoring the extended campaigning period.
Additionally, CPI(M) criticized the use of government resources by unnamed "high-ranking VIPs" under the guise of security concerns, claiming it provided them with an unfair electoral advantage.
