AAP MP Raghav Chadha Calls for ‘Right to Recall’ for MPs and MLAs in India

New Delhi: AAP Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha has proposed a “Right to Recall” system. This would let voters remove non-performing MPs and MLAs before their five-year term ends.

Chadha spoke strongly in favor of this change. He said voters have the right to elect leaders. They should also have the power to remove them if they fail to perform.

Right now, if an MP or MLA does not work well, forgets promises, or stays away from people, voters must wait five years. There is no way to remove them early. No review or correction option exists.

Chadha called five years too long in today’s time. A wrong choice can hurt many people’s future and hold back an area.

He explained that Right to Recall is not a weapon against politicians. It is like an insurance policy for democracy. It gives voters power to fix problems.

Chadha pointed to India’s Constitution. The President can be impeached during term. The Vice President can be removed. Judges have an impeachment process. Governments face no-confidence motions to remove them.
If these high posts can be removed mid-term, why not MPs and MLAs if they do not perform?

More than 24 democracies in the world have Right to Recall. This includes the United States, Canada, and Switzerland.
Chadha gave an example from California, US. In 2002, Gray Davis was elected Governor. During his term, there were big power cuts, an energy crisis, budget mismanagement, and gun shootings.

In 2003, about 1.3 million voters signed a petition to recall him. A recall vote happened on October 7, 2003. Around 55% of voters chose to remove him. Gray Davis lost his post. Arnold Schwarzenegger became the new Governor.

In India, Right to Recall already exists at the gram panchayat level. States like Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan have this system. Gram sabha voters can remove local leaders if needed.

Chadha said safeguards are important to stop misuse. Also He suggested these steps:

• A high threshold, like 35-40% of voters must sign to start the process.
• Give the leader an 18-month performance period (cooling-off time) where recall cannot happen.
• Only specific grounds for removal, not silly reasons.
• Recall should need at least 50% votes in the final vote.

Many people support the idea strongly. They say it will bring real accountability. Voters can remove non-performing leaders instead of waiting five years. Supporters call it a big step for better democracy.
On social media like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, several posts praise the proposal. Users say it will reduce corruption and force parties to choose better candidates. Comments include “full support,” “this will change politics,” and “great idea for citizen power.”

Right To Recall

Existing laws in some states of India that allow citizens to remove or replace public servants holding posts of Sarpanch, Mukhiya, Corporator and Mayor in the government.
1. Right to Recall in India?
Right to Recall lets voters remove elected people before their term ends if they perform badly.
In India, it exists only for some local posts like Sarpanch in certain states, not for MPs or MLAs.

2. Right to Recall in which state in India?
It exists in states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, and others for local bodies.
It is mainly for Panchayat and municipal levels, not state or national lawmakers.

3. Right to recall who introduced in india?
M.N. Roy first proposed Right to Recall in 1944 for better governance.
Later, leaders like Jayaprakash Narayan and some MPs supported the idea.

4. Right to Recall first state in India?
Madhya Pradesh was the first state to implement Right to Recall in local bodies in 2001.
It started with changes to the Panchayati Raj Act for non-performing representatives.

5. Right to recall party?
Right to Recall Party (RRP) is a small registered party in India.
Its main goal is to push for Right to Recall laws across the country.

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