AAP's Raghav Chadha pitches 'Right to Recall' to boost voter accountability

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha on Wednesday called for introducing a 'Right to Recall' mechanism, arguing that voters should have the power to remove elected representatives before the completion of their five-year term if they fail to perform.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, he said, while Indian citizens have the constitutional right to elect Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), there is currently no direct mechanism for voters to de-elect them mid-term on grounds of non-performance or misconduct.

The 'Right to Recall' framework would allow constituents to initiate a formal process to remove an elected representative through a structured and legally defined procedure, he said, adding that India already provides for impeachment of the President, Vice President and judges, and allows no-confidence motions against governments.

Extending a similar accountability principle to individual legislators, he said, would strengthen democrat