Time to act on Supreme Court rulings

Two developments that should be seen as good for our democracy took place on Friday, 27th Sept. Though from disparate sources, they pertain to the same issue.

The first is the Supreme Court holding that voters should be given the right to exercise the option for none-of-the-above (NOTA) candidates during an election. The second is Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi denouncing the ordinance contemplated by the Central Government to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling that disqualifies convicted lawmakers.

With the first-past-the-post principle in force, the no-vote option will create a piquant situation if the negative vote is more than a positive vote. Hence, comprehensive electoral reforms should be introduced to make negative vote meaningful. The Election Commission and political parties can, in consultation with intellectuals, work out the details of the legislation to deal with a situation in which negative votes outnumber positive votes. In such a situation, for example, repoll can be put on hold for a time when the constituency can move into the care of the head of the government.

The manner in which Rahul Gandhi burst out with his remark raises questions about him and the state of our polity. Was Rahul Gandhi trying to be a rebel because he did not make the statement at any party forum in his capacity as party vice-president but at the press conference addressed by his party communication chief Ajay Maken? Or did he not find any other appropriate forum to make his remark? In the world's biggest democracy, there is no way to implement a suggestion, however good to people, if the same goes against the interest of our political masters. It took no less than Rahul Gandhi, the Congress prince, to elicit from the Prime Minister a hint of rethink on the issue. It is notable that even the President's displeasure had seemed ill-equipped to turn Congress bosses away from the ordinance contemplated to overrule the court verdict. Whatever Rahul Gandhi's constraints or calculations in the matter, his outburst should not be allowed to remain rhetoric. The action should begin in the Congress camp itself, taking other parties and all concerned on board. Not only should the ordinance be dropped but all stakeholders should also unitedly work towards comprehensive electoral reforms. In the absence of a meaningful public benefit from the acts of commission and omission on the part our leaders, they will only remind us of fools rushing in where angels fear to tread.