New Delhi

Aam Aadmi Party MP Raghav Chadha on Wednesday advocated the introduction of a “Right to Recall” mechanism, arguing that voters should have the power to remove non-performing elected representatives before the completion of their five-year term.

Speaking during a discussion in the Rajya Sabha, Chadha said that while citizens have the right to elect their representatives, they should also be empowered to recall them if they fail to fulfil their responsibilities.

“Just as voters have the right to elect, they should also have the right to recall. If people can hire a leader, they should also have the right to fire them. The Right to Recall would allow voters to remove an elected representative before the end of the term if they fail to discharge their duties,” Chadha said.

He argued that under the current system, voters are left with no recourse but to wait until the next election if an MP or MLA underperforms.

“If MPs and MLAs do not perform, the public has no option except to wait for five years. There is no provision for accountability or performance review. Before elections, leaders approach the public; after elections, the public has to chase the leader,” he said.

Chadha further contended that constitutional authorities such as the President, Vice President and judges can be impeached, and elected governments can face no-confidence motions mid-term. In that context, he questioned why voters should be compelled to retain a non-performing legislator for the full term.

“Five years is a long time. In no profession can someone underperform for five years without consequences,” he said.

He also noted that more than 24 democracies worldwide, including the United States and Switzerland, have provisions in some form for recall or voter-initiated removal of elected representatives.

At the same time, Chadha proposed safeguards to prevent potential misuse of such a mechanism. He suggested that a recall process should be triggered only if 35–40 per cent of voters in a constituency support it through a verified petition. He also recommended a minimum 18-month cooling-off period after an election before any recall move can be initiated.

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According to Chadha, recall proceedings should be limited to cases involving proven misconduct, fraud, corruption or serious neglect of duty, and not be used for routine political disagreements. He added that removal should require the support of more than 50 per cent of voters in the final recall vote.