In a bold move during zero hour in the Rajya Sabha, Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha passionately advocated for the ‘Right to Recall’ mechanism, allowing voters to remove underperforming elected representatives before their term ends. Chadha highlighted the glaring absence of accountability in India’s legislative framework, where MPs and MLAs often evade responsibility once elected.
He painted a stark picture of the current system: leaders chase votes pre-election, but post-victory, voters chase leaders. In today’s fast-paced world, Chadha argued, a five-year term is excessively long. A wrong choice at the ballot box can doom entire regions to stagnation and darkness.
Drawing global parallels, Chadha cited Canada and Switzerland among over 24 democratic nations with recall provisions. He recounted the 2003 California saga where Governor Gray Davis was ousted via recall after 1.3 million signatures, triggered by energy crises and fiscal mismanagement, with 55% voter approval in a special election.
Chadha emphasized that recall isn’t a weapon against leaders but democracy’s insurance policy. Why, he questioned, do constitutional mechanisms exist for impeaching presidents, vice presidents, and judges, or no-confidence motions against governments, yet voters lack power over non-performing lawmakers?
Locally, he noted similar systems in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan for gram panchayat members via gram sabhas. To prevent misuse, Chadha proposed safeguards: initiate recall only after 18 months, clear grounds for removal, and at least 50% voter consent.
This reform, he asserted, would compel parties to field better candidates, weed out slackers, and fortify Indian democracy at its grassroots.