Bardhan demands proportional representation for Dalits,tribals

He also demanded that budget allocations be made for Dalits according to their population.

Speaking at the National Dalit Assembly here, Bardhan said, "As Dalits comprise 15-16 per cent of the total population, the same proportion of the total budget should be allocated for them. Similarly, 7.5-8 per cent of the total budget allocation should go to the tribal population."

Underlining the need for electoral reforms, he claimed that the the fact is that money and muscle power are deciding who wins elections.

"The Left parties have been demanding for electoral reforms since long. We want everybody's participation in the law making process and for this we want proportional representation so that we can have our representatives from among us," he said.

Bardhan also alleged that most of the MPs are rich people who cannot understand the plight of the poor people.

"The government says we are developing. The GDP is rising despite an economic recession. I would like to ask them if we are developing at 8 per cent per year, then where does all the money going.

"It's going to a handful of corporates and capitalists like the Tatas and the Ambanis. 300 out of the 524 MPs are billionaires, how can these people frame policies which are beneficial for the poor," said Bardhan.