Addressing the gathering, Rijiju remarked that despite the progress of Indian democracy, the practice of voters accepting cash for votes continues to exist in many regions. He said this culture must be changed to strengthen democratic values and ensure greater electoral integrity.
Rijiju also compared the political systems of India and the United Kingdom while highlighting the differences in the responsibilities of elected representatives. He said that in the United Kingdom, one Member of Parliament represents nearly 70,000 people, whereas in West Bengal, the average Assembly constituency has nearly 300,000 voters.
Drawing a contrast between the functioning of legislators in the two democracies, Rijiju said that after becoming a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom, the role largely revolves around delivering speeches. In India, however, public representatives have to work much harder because of the scale of representation and the expectations of the electorate.
The remarks, delivered during the West Bengal Legislative Assembly's orientation programme, underscored Rijiju's emphasis on electoral reforms, democratic accountability, and the challenges faced by elected representatives in India's large and diverse democracy.
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