By IANS,
Thiruvananthapuram: Vice President Hamid Ansari Thursday opined that electoral systems are important because they translate the votes of the people into socio-economic progress.
His remark came while delivering the inaugural address at the National Seminar on Electoral Reforms, organised by the C. Achutha Menon Study Centre and Library, here.
“Their (electoral systems) credibility and representativeness are critical elements in bringing about stable polities that are essential for socio-economic progress,” he said.
Electoral systems also have an undue influence on the evolution of party systems, their role and their cohesion.
“They can encourage inner-party democracy or can suppress dissent. Electoral systems can also influence the nature of political mobilization, alliance formation and societal accommodation. They can spark societal conflict or facilitate conflict management,” said Ansari.
Achuta Menon was the chief minister of Kerala from 1969-70 and 1970-1977. It was under his leadership that several now reputed academic, medical and scientific institutions were set up.
Ansari in his address also said that any debate on the question of electoral system reform must look at enhancing representativeness, promoting societal accommodation and conciliation.
Ansari arrived here Thursday afternoon for a three-day visit. On Friday, he will attend two programmes here and on Saturday he will attend two functions at Kannur before leaving for Delhi.