Narendra Modi backs ‘right to reject’ option for voters

'Candidates with certain percentage of 'right to reject' votes shouldn't be deemed elected.'

Voicing support for right to reject as a voting option,Chief Minister Narendra Modi Saturday said the concept of electing a lesser evil in the country has to be done away with sooner or later.

Addressing a closed-door Young Indian Leaders Conclave at Mahatma Mandir where 200 delegates from across the country participated,he said,We have to come out of this concept of voting for the lesser evil. Today,it is a compulsion to win elections. But once the provision of right to reject is in place,parties will be forced to bring in good candidates.

Modi said candidates who got a certain percentage of right to reject votes should not be deemed elected. Talking about the electoral reforms undertaken by his government,he said,We have already brought in the provision of compulsory voting in local body polls. We want to include the right to reject provision. But unfortunately,the same has not been cleared by the Governor.

Story continues below this ad

The conclave was organised by a little-known group called Citizens for Accountable Governance. Though the event was not open to the public and the media,it was webcast on the chief ministers personal blog.

CM watches slide show on 02 riots,says point taken

Gandhinagar: A critic of Narendra Modi,Syed Zafar Mahmood presented a slide show on the 2002 riots in front of the CM. After the presentation,Modi told Mahmood,who was OSD with Sachar Committee,It is very good you said all that and Ill consider it. On whether Modi was trying for acceptance,Mahmood said,I think that was the purpose of inviting me. PTI