Kumbakonam (TN):  The present system of electing winners in polls could be replaced by the method of 'proportional representation' (PR), Chief Election Commissioner M Gopalswamy said here yesterday (Dec 6, 2006).

"The change was needed as those getting elected under the present system almost always polled votes less than the votes bagged by the rival candidates together," he said addressing the 2nd death anniversary function of the City Union Bank Chairman V Narayanan, organised by the SASTRA University here.

In PR, no single winner is declared but political parties are given representation according to the votes they polled.

PR was the need of the hour as it was not right that a smaller share of voters decided the winner, he added.

In all, there were 172 political parties in India, including those which contested regularly in the elections and others which contested only once in a while, he said.

"Many political parties were being started because they get Income Tax exemption," he said.

"At an average, the Election Commission was getting three applications per week seeking recognition for new parties, "he added.