Voters exercise right to recall

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, APRIL 11. For the first time in the history of Indian democracy, the Madhya Pradesh voters exercised their right to recall and dethroned the president of Anuppur Nagar Panchayat in Shahadol district, Mrs. Pallavika Patel.

Reacting to the event, the Chief Minister, Mr. Digvijay Singh, said the Anuppur example would give a new direction to the country. Accountability was a must in a democracy and the right to recall would strengthen direct democracy in the State.

The State had given the right to recall in cases of directly elected mayors, presidents and sarpanchas in urban civic bodies and panchayats. Mr. Singh was also the first Chief Minister to decentralise powers at the grassroots level by holding panchayat elections as per the 73rd Constitutional amendment.

The counting of votes polled on Monday under the Right to Recall for Annuppur Nagar Panchayat was done yesterday. A total of 5519 votes were cast of which 3255 were in favour of the Empty Chair and only 1678 votes in favour of the Occupied Chair. Under the rules, if more than 50 per cent votes are cast in favour of the unoccupied chair, the present incumbent gets dethroned.

In Madhya Pradesh, the relevant laws have been amended for moving a no-confidence motion against mayors or presidents of urban civic bodies. Under the new dispensation, a resolution endorsed by three-fourths of the total number of elected corporators or councillors could be submitted to the Collector or Commissioner for the recall of the mayor or president. After verification, the resolution is forwarded to the State Government, which then refers the matter to the State Election Commission for holding polls for the recall of the mayor or president.

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Section  : Other States
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