Making voting compulsory in local body polls will be discussed: H.K. Patil

Quick on the heels of Gujarat passing a legislation making voting compulsory in Panchayat Raj elections, Karnataka would contemplate the possibility of a similar move, said Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister H.K. Patil.

Speaking to reporters here on Wednesday, the minister, however, clarified that it was his “personal opinion” and he would bring it up before cabinet during the discussion on the recommendations of The Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act Amendment Committee, 2014.

‘Good measure’

Describing the recent Gujarat legislation as a “good measure”, Mr. Patil said: “Voting should become compulsory in general elections too, in the light of dwindling voting percentage particularly in urban pockets.” The committee headed by former speaker Ramesh Kumar has made a slew of recommendations about election reforms, including funding the campaigns of all candidates in local body elections. Mr. Patil said that making voting compulsory was not among the recommendations.

It may be mentioned here that Gujarat Governor, last week, passed the Gujarat Local Authorities Laws Bill, 2009, which has the provisions of compulsory voting in the institutions of local self-governance. Once it comes into effect, Gujarat will be the first state to have the provision of compulsory voting. The move had earlier faced resistance from former governor Kamla Beniwal on the ground that forcing voters to compulsorily vote violates Article 21 of the Constitution.

Phase II funding from WB

Mr. Patil said that Rs. 2,000 crore would be pumped into Phase II of the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Strengthening Project, which will begin in two months. Under this project (which has a World Bank aid and loan component of Rs. 1,400 crore) 2,585 Gram Panchayat will get a fund of Rs. 68.30 crore each over the next five years. Rs. 650 crore had been spent on 1,341 gram panchayats in the first phase of the project.

This money would be spent on technology upgradation, infrastructure development and training, said Mr. Patil. When asked if technology upgradation would yield benefits in the light of power crisis in villages, he said that harnessing solar energy would also be explored as an option to overcome this problem.