Hundreds of citizens, including women and students from the city, under the banner of the Campaign for Electoral Reforms in India (CERI), State Chapter, formed a human chain at the lower PMG here on Friday demanding introduction of the Proportional Representation System (PRS) in the country as an alternative electoral system in place of the present first-past-the post (FPTP) system.
Holding placard, posters and banners, the citizens pressed for the electoral reform. Notably, the PRS is being practiced in 80 countries, including Germany, Switzerland, Nepal and South Africa.
In a public meeting held on the occasion, speakers from several political parties and media houses discussed about the limitations of the present election system which is managed by corporate in the name of democracy. Among others, CPI(M) leader Santosh Das, CPI leader Ramkrushna Panda, RPI State president Abdulwalli, Prasant Mallick of Odisha Dalit Adhikar Manch and CERI State coordinator Manas Jena spoke. The body plans to take the campaign to all over the State involving political parties and civil society groups.