Gujarat assembly passes mandatory voting bill
Gujarat Assembly on Saturday passed a landmark bill which makes, for the first time in the country, voting mandatory in local body polls.
The Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2009, which also seeks to raise the reservation of seats for women in local self governance bodies from 33 to 50 per cent, was passed by voice vote.
The opposition, led by Congress, opposed the mandatory voting provision, terming it in contradiction with the constitutional provisions but supported raising of seats for women in the local bodies from 33 per cent to 50 per cent.
The opposition had demanded separate bills for 50 per cent reservation for women and for mandatory voting in local self governance bodies.
Under the bill, if a voter fails to vote for the reasons other than prescribed in the rules, he may be declared a “defaulter voter” and would face consequences for which rules will be framed and placed before the Assembly for its approval later.
“It is observed that due to low turnout of voters to discharge their duty by exercising their right to vote, the true spirit of the will of the people is not reflected in the electoral mandate,” said the statement of objects and reasons of the bill.
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi later told reporters that this is an attempt to strengthen India’s democracy. “Everybody will benefit by compulsory voting be it a ruling party or the opposition,” he said.
While introducing the bill, Nitin Patel described the bill as a historical step taken by the government to strengthen the democratic process by achieving 100 per cent voting in the local bodies’ elections.
According to him, the proposed provision once approved, will put Gujarat in the league of a number of developed nations where voting in the local bodies’ polls is mandatory.
However, Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil described it as a “populist measure” by the Sstate government which is absolutely in contradiction with the constitutional provisions.
He added the amendment bill should be split into two and a separate bill for reservation for women should be introduced first.
“My party will support the government and would vote in favour of the bill for enhancing reservation for women from 33 per cent to 50 per cent as done by the Central Government,” Gohil said, adding, “however, Congress party cannot support the provision of mandatory voting.”
