Gujarat Congress hits out at state govt over compulsory voting law

Says it takes away 'the Constitutional rights'

Gujarat Congress on Tuesday slammed the BJP government in the state on the issue of controversial law which makes voting in local body elections mandatory, saying it takes away "the Constitutional rights".

"It seems the BJP government is hell-bent on implementing this law by hook or by crook. I am asking this government, which makes such laws with the help of majority in the Assembly, to work within the boundaries of Constitution," Leader of opposition in the state Assembly Shankarsinh Vaghela said here.

The government is completing the formalities of notifying rules under act, which provides for penal action for failing to cast vote.

"BJP government is destroying the democracy through its majority. Just to create a unique image for itself, this government has brought this act. This experiment of compulsory voting will only satisfy egos of BJP rulers," said Vaghela.

"Show me a single state where such a law exists. Why such experiment with the people of Gujarat? This government has no right to attack Constitutional rights of citizens. As per the Constitution, government can not force any citizen to cast his vote," the senior Congress leader said.

He also claimed that Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala (who belongs to BJP), a former Speaker of Gujarat Assembly, recently returned similar compulsory voting bill to the southern state's Assembly after it was passed.

"Recently, Karanataka governor returned a similar bill with his remarks. In Gujarat, the previous governor had written similar comments on the bill and returned it. It proves the bill violates the fundamental rights," he said.

Last week Gujarat health minister Nitin Patel had said that the government will soon take the decision to introduce compulsory voting in coming local body polls. The announcement came after top government functionaries held a meeting with State Election Commission.

The bill was passed by the Gujarat Assembly for the first time in 2009. However, the then governor Kamla Beniwal rejected it. It was once again passed in 2011, but did not receive governor's assent. Finally, in November 2014, the new governor O P Kohli gave assent to it.

Apart from Congress, some prominent citizens and legal experts have protested the law. The state government has formed a committee, seeking suggestions for framing rules under the act. Sources said the committee, headed by retired IAS officer K C Kapoor, had submitted its report.