From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI: There were expectations that at least Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh will find some representation in the Union Ministry this time. Manipur is going to polls next year and Arunachal Pradesh assumes significance in view return of Congress Government several times in the past barring a gap when then Congress Chief Minister Gegong Apang defected though came back to the party fold later with the change of Government at the Centre.
An in depth analysis shows that democracy comes with its extra baggage such as rule of the majority, because of which the numerically weaker section is always sidelined. Some states like Nagaland, Mizoram and Sikkim get to send only one MP to the Lok Sabha and the rest barring Assam only two. The representation in Rajya Sabha in case of all these states except Assam is also only one each.
Compared this with states like Uttar Pradesh which has 80 MPs followed by States like Maharastra with 48 MPs, West Bengal 42, Andhra Pradesh 42, Bihar 40 and so on have proportionately much higher representation in the Upper House too because of the strength of the population and Assembly.
The north-eastern states comprising Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura account for a total of 26 MPs and this figure itself says something significant about why democracy is not perfect and will not be. With 26 MPs representing eight states in a House of 545 and a country comprising 28 states and seven union territories, the downside of going by the formula of majority stands exposed.
This perhaps is one of the biggest drawbacks in the system of democracy followed in the country and a better understanding of the system of proportionate representation is called for. The present system, as understood, invariably gives a long handle to all the MPs coming from States which get to send a larger number of MPs than States which get to send only one or two MPs.
It is mainly on account of the fact that MPs from the North-East continue to be on the fringes of national politics, much like the geographical location of the region, which lies on the eastern frontiers of the country. A look at the composition of the Council of Ministers at Delhi, since India became an independent Nation, tells the story of this reality.
With just a handful of 26 MPs from the eight states, the north-eastern region continues to be woefully short of representation in the Council of Ministers at Delhi. Though the region’s MPs did try to form a power block by forming North East MPs Forum it did not click.
A Purno or a Handique or a Dev are only one time exceptions but by and large the region is bereft of galaxy of colossus figures unlike other major states. A reform of the system will be too high an order to follow but what can definitely be looked into is how the region’s states can be better represented in the Union Council of Ministers, one analyst said.
Instead of the number of MPs, something may be done along the line of regional representation or State wise representation, more so when it comes to states from the North East. It will not do just to say that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh himself represents the North-East or legendary figures like GG Swell refused berth at the last moment.
Since Independence, the number of MPs from all the north-eastern states put together who became Union ministers can be counted on one’s finger tips. Barring Assam all other states of the region hardly got any berth in the Union Council of Ministers. PK Thungon from Arunachal Pradesh, SC Jamir from Nagaland, Kamson from Manipur, PR Kyndiah from Meghalaya, Lalthanhawla form Mizoram were only one time wonders who hardly staged a comeback at the Centre though a few of them signed in their respective states.
This time senior most MP from Manipur Rishang Keishing and Mukut Mithi from Aruanchal Pradesh both Rajya Sabha MPs were aspiring for a berth. Both were former chief ministers of Congress-ruled states.