MOHAN NELLORE writes: There has been a long history of candidates contesting elections from more than one constituency in Indian politics for reasons of safety, prestige and pure powerplay.
This has happened in the past and this time, too, it is going to be no different.
Either you can praise the Constitution for providing such a provision.
Or you can pan it.
I, for one, believe, that this provision creates a huge hole in the Treasury, especially if a candidate is elected from one or more constituencies to either the Lok Sabha or to the Assembly. More so when the electoral rules also clearly state that an elected member can represent only one constituency and fresh elections should be held in the constituency vacated by a multiple seat winner within six months.
Allowing candidates to stand from multiple constituencies results in a waste of resources and doesn’t serve any useful purpose. It only allows our leaders to exploit the electoral system by making a mockery of democracy.
I wish to see the following amendments in our Constitution:
# Candidates shouldn’t be allowed to contest from multiple constituencies.
# Candidates should not be allowed to contest for either Parliament or the Assembly if they are already a member of either house.
# If both the above rules cannot be implemented due to any technical reasons, then a candidate winning from more than one constituency should pay for entire re-election expenses. Plus, twice the expense amount towards public and government inconvenience.
# In addition to the third point above, such person should not be allowed to contest any election in future.
This is my personal opinion.
If a candidate is so sceptical about winning chances, he/she can never be a good leader. In a Freudian sort of way, it only points to a flaw in their thoughts and their inability to convince voters.
Every voter should think twice about such contestants and should punish them so badly that this kind of candidates should never chose to come in public again.
Folks, wake up. It is our money being spent to test their fortune. Do we really need such leaders to represent us?
Tags: 2009 Elections, Churumuri, General Elections 2009, Lok Sabha, Parliament, Rajya Sabha, Representation of Peoples Act, Sans Serif
31 March 2009 at 5:04 pm
[...] Note: This article is cross posted on Churumuri [...]
31 March 2009 at 5:27 pm
There should be changes in peoples representation act, a sitting MLA or MP if defeated should be debarred from contesting for a period of 5 years.
This will bring in new blood, cut dynasty rule, candidates will be more active.
31 March 2009 at 6:10 pm
http://www.bosey.co.in/2009/03/residents-violently-protest-against.html
Churumuri, Do christians become idiots and buffoons atleast now?
***
Also, Why no noise over talibanic J&K police in Churumuri or ELM? huh any answers?
http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1243192
31 March 2009 at 8:01 pm
No politician is so important that he must necessarily get elected in each election. People who contest from more than one constituency waste public resources, by leading to by-election, if one of them gets elected from more than one constituency. I must say that the voters definitely act foolishly by choosing such candidate, not knowing to which constituency, the candidate will be loyal to. This is a fit case, where the RPA 1950 should be amended to forbid such contests. (Would any politician promote a law which is inconvenient for the politician-tribe, is a moot question). It would be more effective, if voters are educated to ignore such opportunistic and slimy candidates.
31 March 2009 at 8:28 pm
The worst is the re-cost of a by-election! I don’t think its abolition would face too much opposition. It would get carried if somebody moved the proposal, I think.
I also like Nilesh’s proposal.
31 March 2009 at 9:25 pm
Bamboo Basappa,
That christian link is a satire man. That’s a humor site. Verify the links and read them before you post it and make a fool out of yourselves . :)
31 March 2009 at 11:04 pm
agree this is nonsensical…im all for changing the laws to remove this allowance..
question is is there something in the law that specifucally allows this or is it a loophole kind of thing(not specifically banned and hence allowed)?
if its the former then what was the rationale behind having such a law..was the obvious reason of increasing the chances of winning alone sufficient for the parliament to pass such a law??i hv my doubts as the parliamentarians of yore were not opportunists like those today..
1 April 2009 at 10:58 am
@Nilesh – Very good point. Whether it can be enforced by law is the questions! Can some one in the related field comment on this please?
@Gururaj B.N. – Agree with your thoughts completely. The change needs to come from voters. If the politicians can play with law and the system, we as voters can show what we are capable of. But again it is possible only from enlightened voters who don’t get sold for some money and alcohol.
@Palahalli – the question is : Is there a representative who wants to propose these kind of changes?
@ponnapa – I am expecting some constitutional law experts to comment on the whole issue. Thats why people always say ‘Good OLD days’ :)
1 April 2009 at 5:11 pm
Mohan – For anything to change, it will have to be the legislators who must introduce a bill.
Even the Constitutional expert can only advise…not legislate and enforce.
4 April 2009 at 7:35 pm
Recovery of cost of election from the candidate who resigns after getting elected in more than one constituency (be it State Legislature of the Parliament) is a very good deterrant against these leaders who consider themselves indispensible for the good of the country!
6 April 2009 at 10:15 am
Good post…
Also check out this electoral system which existed 1300 years back..
http://thoughtbundles.blogspot.com/2008/01/election-commission-750-ad.html
7 April 2009 at 10:16 am
Dear All,
I think I have the solution: the first seat can be contested at the nominal rate as laid down by the Election Commission. Any other contest from the same candidate can be allowed for a fee of Rs. 10 crores. In this way, the government gets some money back. Now let us go ahead and enforce this legislation ASAP!!!