Civic body chief survives 1st Rajasthan recall vote

Ashok Jain, the chairman of the Mangrol Nagar Palika in Baran district, on Friday won the first right to recall vote in Rajasthan.

Mangrol had voted Wednesday on a no-confidence motion passed by the municipal board against Jain, elected as an Independent in November 2009, and, as the results showed, decided to keep him in the job.

Of the 10,998 people who cast their ballot — the total electorate numbered 16,735 — as many as 7,243 voted against the motion while 3,755 supported it.

The victory has assured Jain at least two more years in the job; a no-confidence motion can't be initiated against him before that. Jain said the win showed the people always supported him and the exercise was a conspiracy by Congress members of the municipal board to settle personal scores with him.

Rajasthan is the third state after Madhya Pradesh and Punjab to hold a right to recall vote. The provision for such a vote was introduced into the Rajasthan Municipalities Act in March 2011.

The board — 17 of whose 20 members had voted for the motion against him — had accused Jain of high-handedness and inefficiency and said he had failed to deliver and disappointed the people.

ALSO READ

Pawar to seek special package for state

China incursion: Both sides withdraw troops from Daulat Beg Oldi sector

Sonia Gandhi consults A K Antony on Pawan Bansal issue

Coalgate probe: No accused or suspect let off, says CBI chief Ranjit Sinha