Sabhas Working
Here then are the key objectives of the two-sided marketplace that Sabhas wants to be:
- To create a shadow or parallel government that mirrors the working of the real one
- To attract large numbers of people; ideally, from the non-aligned and non voters (NANVs)
- To attract political entrepreneurs keen on climbing the political ladder
- To unite all on the twin principles of freedom and prosperity
Here is how the Sabhas system can work:
- There are two mirror Sabhas: Jan Sabha Central (for the Lok Sabha) and Jan Sabha State (for the Vidhan Sabha). In due course, Jan Sabha Local can mirror the municipal corporation and panchayats.
- Each Sabha has mirror MPs or MLAs, as the case may be. The term of each ‘elected’ representative is a year.
- Any registered voter can become a member.
- Digital elections held annually determine the winners. (A rank choice vote can be used to determine the winner, as an alternative to the first-past-the-post system which encourages narrow targeting a selectorate for victory.)
- There is a second vote – for the direct election of the Jan Prime Minister and Jan Chief Minister. 50%+1 vote is needed for victory. If this is not achieved in the first round, a run-off is held among the top two candidates.
- The winning elected representatives come together to form the Jan Sabhas. They form the mirror legislatures.
- The Jan PMs and CMs can appoint their own cabinet of professionals (outside of the elected representatives). This forms the executive arm of the Sabhas government.
- The executive arm can propose policies. This is then sent for a discussion and vote to the Jan Sabhas, which meet every other week for 4 hours to debate legislation proposed by the executive, or discuss other issues of importance.
- It is also possible for the elected reps to propose Bills which can then be sent to the PM or CM for assent.
- All registered members can also voice their opinions on proposed legislation via their app. This gives a directional view to the elected representatives of the voice of the people. These votes are non-binding.
- A ‘Constitution for a Free India’ sets out the boundaries of power of the Sabhas governments and the types of policies that can be made. For example, Sabhas cannot make a policy that discriminates between people.
- A 3-member legal team will serve as the judiciary and vet all decisions made by the Sabhas.
- A citizen assembly of a hundred people randomly selected from the members is convened twice a year to provide guidance on policies to the mirror governments. They meet for 4 days and are educated on a wide variety of issues. They are polled before and after to measure shift in opinion.
- Since there is no way to measure the actual impact of the proposed policies, an independent team of economists assesses the impact of all policy proposals and gives its report prior to the election. The voting record of each representative is also released. This helps the members decide on who to vote for in the next election.
- Term limits ensure that no person can serve in the same position twice.
- All winners of elections are automatically enrolled for training. This is done every alternate week for 4 hours. The winners are taught principles of politics, philosophy and economics (PPE) along with the use of digital technologies for outreach.
- 2 weeks are set aside each year for campaigning and elections.
How Sabhas leads to real candidates for elections:
- If the Sabhas membership base is more than 10% in a constituency, then an independent candidate is put up for contest in that constituency.
- A primary will be held to determine the candidate. The winners of all past elections (including the incumbent) can contest.
- A Jan PM/CM has a wildcard entry into any contest.
- Primaries are held to select the contestant for the national election.
- The winner of the primary will contest the actual elections as an Independent.
Tomorrow: Part 10
