Bangalore: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s interaction with party leaders from Karnataka on electoral reforms turned out to be an interesting dialogue in New Delhi on Saturday.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, KPCC vice president, B. L. Shankar who made the presentation on electoral reforms described the interaction with Gandhi as interesting but laced with humour. “Electoral reform is the only key for infusing fresh blood in politics. I suggested the US model.
We too can have fixed terms for MLAs, MPs, ministers, Chief Ministers and the Prime Minister too. This will help bring more youngsters into politics. This cannot happen unless electoral reforms are in place,” Shankar observed.
He said frequent elections and bypolls to Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assembly have taken their toll on developmental activities. Therefore, elections to the Assembly and Lok Sabha must to be held simultaneously.
Once elected, the five-year term should be fixed and a MP or a MLA should not have four or five terms. “Whatever the length of the term that the party thinks fit should be fixed. An upper House member should be allowed only two terms,” Shankar added.
Intervening at this juncture, Gandhi remarked: “Shankar, your suggestions are interesting. But how should we proceed in this regard bringing fixed terms for MPs, MLAs and CMs?”
Shankar then suggested that such reforms could be effected through necessary amendments to the Constitution and Representation of the People Act. “Do you mean to say that you want all leaders to sign their own death warrants? Will it happen?” Gandhi remarked humorously.
