Subhash Chandra Agrawal for BeyondHeadlines
If recommendations of Election Commission would have been accepted to put option of 49(o) on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), then surely there would have been sweeping majority for ‘None-To-Be-Voted’ in elections to Karnataka assembly! Results reveal that voter had no option other than to vote for one of several evils namely Congress (corruption at national-level), BJP (corruption at state-level), JDS (opportunist regional party) and KJP (vote-splitter), with none of the main four evils (parties) getting anywhere near the absolute majority-mark in terms of votes polled.
Hung assembly or assembly with thin majority will provide a much-needed blackmail-power to JDS, KJP and others for which these contested elections. Blackmail power of regional and vote-splitting parties/persons should be curtailed by electing Chief Minister (CM) together with Speaker and Deputy Speaker by secret and compulsory vote by all MLAs through EVMs on nomination signed by at least 34-percent members. MLAs not taking part in democratic process of elections to these posts may be disqualified from membership and also for contesting any future election. Such elected persons may only be removed through no-confidence motion passed in the same manner but with compulsion to name alternate leader in the same motion. Any leader imposed by party high-command in no way enjoys majority-support of complete state-assembly.
Only way to reform political parties for fielding better candidates is to put option for ‘None-To-Vote’ on EVMs in next phase of assembly elections as a trial for 2014-elections to Lok Sabha. All rejected candidates should be barred from contesting any future election in life. No person should be allowed to contest for more than one seat or for both Lok Sabha and state-assembly. A sitting MP or MLA should first resign from earlier seat before filing nomination for the other seat. Any member of Parliament/state-legislature should automatically lose membership in case of becoming minister in state/centre respectively. But who will bell the cat when parties and politicians in general are beneficiary of present-days’ corrupt political system!
