Raghav Chadha Proposes 'Right to Recall'

Raghav Chadha, an MP from the India — Aam Aadmi Party, proposed a 'Right to Recall' mechanism in the India — Rajya Sabha, advocating for voters to have the power to remove elected representatives like Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) before their five-year term ends due to non-performance or misconduct. Chadha argued that this would enhance accountability and reduce corruption, citing examples from over 20 democracies including the United States and Switzerland. He also suggested safeguards to prevent misuse, such as a minimum voter threshold (35-40%), an 18-month cooling-off period after elections, and limiting recall grounds to proven misconduct or fraud. The proposal faced some opposition, notably from Pramod Tiwari of the India — Indian National Congress, who deemed it 'dangerous for democracy'. Historically, the 'Right to Recall' was discussed and rejected by India's Constituent Assembly, with figures like B. R. Ambedkar and Ahmedabad Airport opposing it due to practical difficulties.