Kottayam (Kerala), Nov 16 (UNI) In an unusual and symbolic protest against the reservation system in elections, a male candidate has filed his nomination in a reserved ward exclusively for women in Pala Municipality, calling the quota policy “undemocratic.”
E B J Jose, Chairman of the Mahatma Gandhi National Foundation, submitted his nomination papers for Ward 9 (Kochippadi), which is reserved exclusively for women candidates.
Criticising the 50 percent reservation for women in local bodies, Jose said, “The quota system weakens democratic principles by restricting voter choice.”
He noted that Kochippadi had been reserved for women in the previous term as well and has again been allotted to the women’s category.
“When women speak of equality, enforcing reservation amounts to officially branding them as weak,” Jose said.
Meanwhile, Assistant Returning Officer A. Siyad accepted the nomination and issued the official receipt along with the scrutiny notice.
He argued that public service should be voluntary, and “mandatory reservations hinder the functioning of true democracy”.
He further alleged that representatives elected from reserved seats are often influenced or controlled by external forces or political parties, which he believes distorts the spirit of democratic governance.
Jose has consistently raised concerns about electoral practices, including issues of multiple nominations and mid-term resignations by elected members.
His earlier recommendation to include candidates’ photographs on voting machines to prevent impersonation was accepted by the Election Commission of India. Calling for the complete elimination of reservation categories in elections, Jose said, “Instead of cleansing and strengthening democracy, such measures are contaminating it.”
