New Delhi, January 22
In a far-reaching suggestion, the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and one of the well-known votaries of electoral reforms T.S. Krishnamurthy today said that all the ministers, except a two or three holding important portfolios in each state, should resign as soon as the announcement for Assembly elections is made.
The CEC, who was speaking at a workshop on ‘electoral reforms’ here also admitted that conducting elections in Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana posed a “daunting challenge” in view of the politico-criminal nexus in these states.
Stating that the party in power took undue advantage in the state assembly poll, Mr Murthy said: “Perhaps the Chief Minister, the Finance Minister and the Home Minister could continue in office and all others could resign.”
Stating that it was his “personal” suggestion, the CEC said: “It would be a good convention if all parties agreed to resign when in power to ensure that constitutional obligations are fulfilled during this period.”
Devoting considerable time on the coming Assembly elections, Mr Murthy said the conduct of elections in Bihar, Jharkhand and Haryana posed a “daunting challenge” in view of the politico-criminal nexus in these states and expressed concern over free movement of criminal elements threatening to spread fear in voters’ minds.
“The nexus between criminal elements and political leaders is providing a daunting challenge in the conduct of election especially in these three important states”, he said.
“What is worrying me is the impunity with which criminal elements are moving about in some areas of this country threatening to spread fear in the minds of the voters”, Mr Murthy said adding that precious innocent lives were lost during poll because of the freedom with which these criminals were spreading the “reign of terror”.
It was rather strange that while in states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala elections took place without any major problem in spite of the sizeable voting population, he said.
“There are some other states where we are unable to conduct one-day poll due to want of large number of security forces required to maintain law and order to control to a large extent the criminal elements from interfering with the election process”, he said.
Non-bailable warrants were pending execution in large numbers in these states, he added.
The CEC also stressed that the criminals against whom charge sheets have been framed well ahead of elections should be prevented from contesting.
“This is not denial of any fundamental right. This is only a suspension of a statutory right until the
person is cleared of the charges”, he said.
Noting that in some democracies, independents were not allowed to contest the parliamentary elections, he said it was worthwhile to consider banning independents from contesting at least in parliamentary elections.
The CEC said the culture of publishing photographs of leaders in advertisements announcing government policies and achievements should be totally banned at least during the election period.
Petitions filed by the aggrieved persons against the elections should be settled by constituting benches or tribunals within a timeframe of two years if they have to be of any meaningful purpose.
On granting voting rights to Indian passport holders living outside India, he said it could be either by voting in the constituency in which normally they have a permanent residence or by voting one or two representatives in the House to represent their voices in Parliament.
