Right to reject, recall will destabilise country: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner SY Quareshi disfavors Team Anna’s demands on ‘Right to Recall’ or ‘Right to Reject’, as these could “destabilise the country”. “Right to Recall is 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 telecast on Sunday.

According to Quareshi, the inclusion of any Right to Reject proposal in voting could be misused to put out an unintended political message, especially in places like Kashmir and North-Eastern states where people already feel alienated.

Quareshi advocated the 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 asked. He, however, feels that the 49-0 rule would lead to more frequent elections.

Quareshi wants more powers for the EC to “derecognise political parties” for violation of guidelines in order to have tighter control on electoral system and to help bring in inner-party democracy.

The election commissioners should be appointed through a collegium to enhance the credibility of the institution. The EC should be vested with powers to have an independent secretariat on the pattern of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, he said.