The BJP has once again sought more time to reply to a comprehensive questionnaire on Electoral Reforms forwarded by an all-party parliamentary panel.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice, headed by Congress leader Anand Sharma had sent a six-page “Questionnaire on Electoral Reforms” to all parties and the Election Commission.
BJP MP Bhupender Yadav, according to sources, submitted a letter on Tuesday asking for more time, the third such extension sought by the party. “A majority of other parties have deposed before the committee and have submitted written replies too. We are awaiting the BJP’s response at present. We could have submitted the report in the monsoon session. But, for the BJP’s response it was delayed. We are however, not complaining, because it gave us time to hear more views,” Mr Sharma told The Hindu.
The BJP however, claimed that it had informed the panel that it would respond only after the monsoon session. “I do not think this is the third time we have asked for an extension. We had clearly said we will be able to submit our reply only post the monsoon session. We are likely to do so soon now,” a senior BJP functionary said.
Change in system
The questionnaire seeks to initiate first formal discussions on the existing first-past-the post system. The panel has pointed out apprehensions about the present system citing the recent Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections where a party getting 39% of the vote share won 312 seats while parties getting 22% and 21% got only 47 and 19 seats respectively.
Following the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the opposition has repeatedly claimed that the BJP was not the majority’s choice since it got only 31% of the votes.
Simultaneous polls
The BJP’s response to the questionnaire would be interesting given that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders have been advocating simultaneous polls for the Lok Sabha and State assemblies.
The panel is also reviewing other aspects of elections including the issue of paid news, which was discussed at Tuesday’s meeting. Office bearers of the Indian Newspaper Society, Director Naresh Mohan and Secretary General S.P. Gaur deposed before the committee.