The Congress party on Monday said the right to recall elected representatives and reject candidates as demanded by activist Anna Hazare is not practical as 50 per cent of the people do not vote in the country. The BJP said the issue should be given serious consideration. Right to recall is not practical in India. 50 per cent people do not vote. Candidates win elections by getting only three crore votes out of a 13 to 14 cr voters. so I do not think it is possible in the country, Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters outside Parliament House. On the demand for the right to reject candidates,he said,Same way,this will only be applicable when maximum voters come out to vote. First we should try to ensure that 80 to 90 per cent voters go for voting. Otherwise,right to reject is also not feasible. Soon after he ended his 12-day fast on the Lokpal issue,Hazare yesterday said his fight would now be for the 'right to recall' and 'right to reject' as part of electoral reforms so that corruption can be reduced. While right to recall would be for those elected,the right to reject would be a column in the ballot paper which would ensure the voter has a right to say he does not like the listed candidates. We have to reform the electoral system. We need the right to reject. You should be able to reject your candidate on the ballot paper. We have to do that. Backing poll reforms,BJP leader Rajnath Singh said,As far as change in the system is concerned,we are in favour of it. There should be changes in the electoral,administrative and economic systems. Recalling the JP movement,Singh said,When JP had given the call for complete revolution in the country,the issue of right to recall and right to reject was raised. The issue should be taken up seriously.
