One candidate, one seat, suggests law panel

New Delhi: Observing that allowing candidates of political parties to contest in two Lok Sabha/Assembly seats is harassment of voters, the Law Commission has urged the Centre to limit candidates to standing from only one constituency.

The commission headed by Justice A.P. Shah, in its 255th report to law minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda on Thursday, said, “The commission recommends an amendment of Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act which permits a candidate to contest any election from up to two constituencies. In view of the expenditure of time and effort; election fatigue; and the harassment caused to voters, Section 33(7) should be amended.”

The commission rejected the demand for state funding of elections or providing matching grants, saying this was not feasible given current conditions in India.

It said “paid news” should be made an electoral offence liable to disqualify candidates, saying, “Paying for news is a practice that affects free and fair elections. It affects the electors’ right to know, and also skews elections in favour of those who possess economic wherewithal.”

It also rejected the concept of compulsory voting, saying this would be highly undemocratic.

The panel said it was not in favour of introducing the right to recall of an elected candidate because it could lead to an excess of democracy as well as undermine the independence of the elected candidates and increase chances of misuse and abuse.