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Amid a demand by Team Anna for radical poll reforms, Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi says he is not in favour of ‘Right to Recall’, ‘Right to Reject’ or elected representatives, warning that any such electoral rule will ‘destabilise’ the country.
Opposing any move to have a ‘Right to Recall’ as in many developed countries, Quraishi said it may not work in India given the size of the country.
“It’s not possible in India...It will destabilise the country, everywhere where there is discontent, people will start recalling,” Quraishi told Karan Thapar on the Devil’s advocate programme on CNN-IBN.
The inclusion of any right to reject proposal in voting, said Quraishi, could be misused to put out an unintended political message, especially in places like Kashmir and northeastern States where people already feel alienated.
“We have to see the implication of everything for the country,” he said.
He advocated introduction of 49-O button in EVMs instead which would help voters to express their unhappiness over the candidates.
“Instead of a negative force of right to reject, why don't you select a good candidate instead,” he added.
On the proposal of introducing a clause on Right to Reject, Quraishi said even though the Election Commission has supported introduction of 49-O (rule) button in EVMs for voters to express their displeasure over candidates, the proposal will lead to more frequent elections.
The 49-O rule of The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 describes the procedure to be followed when a valid voter decides not to cast his vote, and decides to record this fact.
“Our main fear is that if we start rejecting all the candidates, we will have another election and people already complain of election fatigue,” he said.
Opposing any move to have a ‘Right to Recall’ as in many developed countries, Quraishi said it may not work in India given the size of the country.
“It’s not possible in India...It will destabilise the country, everywhere where there is discontent, people will start recalling,” Quraishi told Karan Thapar on the Devil’s advocate programme on CNN-IBN.
The inclusion of any right to reject proposal in voting, said Quraishi, could be misused to put out an unintended political message, especially in places like Kashmir and northeastern States where people already feel alienated.
“We have to see the implication of everything for the country,” he said.
He advocated introduction of 49-O button in EVMs instead which would help voters to express their unhappiness over the candidates.
“Instead of a negative force of right to reject, why don't you select a good candidate instead,” he added.
On the proposal of introducing a clause on Right to Reject, Quraishi said even though the Election Commission has supported introduction of 49-O (rule) button in EVMs for voters to express their displeasure over candidates, the proposal will lead to more frequent elections.
The 49-O rule of The Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 describes the procedure to be followed when a valid voter decides not to cast his vote, and decides to record this fact.
“Our main fear is that if we start rejecting all the candidates, we will have another election and people already complain of election fatigue,” he said.
