SC verdict: parties react cautiously, CPI(M) opposes

Political parties on Friday reacted cautiously to a Supreme Court verdict holding that citizens have the right to reject candidates contesting polls with CPI(M) saying that the judgement has led to an “abnormal situation” that needs to be corrected.

Congress General Secretary Ajay Maken said the judgement needs to be studied to see if the apex court has taken all aspects like overwhelming number of negates votes into account as reacting on the spur of the moment could be a little premature.

Implementation of the verdict will be difficult and it may create many problems, another party leader Rashid Alvi felt.

BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “We are in favour of electoral reforms. 25-30 years back we used to have elections once in five years but now we have elections every four months in some state or the other.

“To say whether this decision is right or wrong now would be hasty. Anything can be said only after studying the judgement,” he remarked.

However, CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury came out strongly against the verdict, saying, “This is an abnormal situation that needs to be corrected.

“Elections after all are the direct contribution of our parliamentary democracy. Neither the judiciary nor the Election Commission participates in the elections. It is the political parties which participate. Without even talking to them deciding like this, it is not a good sign,” he said.

Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somanth Chatterjee also opposed the verdict, maintaining, “The Supreme Court has given its judgement, I don’t think it is correct.”

Welcoming the judgement, BSP chief Mayawati said, “Babasaheb Ambedkar was also in favour of right to reject.”

In a landmark verdict, the apex court on Friday held that citizens have right to cast negative vote rejecting all candidates contesting polls, a decision which would encourage people not satisfied with contestants to turn up for voting.