Guj govt keen to make voting mandatory before polls in October

People of Gujarat might have to compulsorily exercise their franchise or face penal action in local body polls to be held in October, as the state government is likely to notify rules for the controversial provision before those elections.
A committee formed by the Gujarat government to frame rules for compulsory voting, has hurriedly invited suggestions from the people before they recommend a set of rules for the same to be notified.
The committee, headed by former state election commissioner and retired IAS officer K C Kapoor, has in a public notice given ten days time to people to give their suggestions on what penal action should be there for those who fail to vote, stating that they require it urgently.

"The main work of the committee is to recommend rules for compulsory voting. The committee is of the opinion that it seeks views from people before making recommendations to the state government. In view of the upcoming polls in October to be held in municipal corporations, municipalities, district panchayat and taluka panchayat, people are requested to give their views by April 18," the public notice issued by the member secretary of the committee posted on government website on April 9, says.
The notice also says that Gujarat will be the first state to implement compulsory voting in the country before the next round of local bodies polls in the state in October.

Government spokesperson and Health Minister Nitin Patel had earlier said that Gujarat government will implement the provision of compulsory voting in local bodies' elections to be held in October.

State Governor O P Kohli had cleared the controversial Gujarat Local Authorities Laws (Amendment) Bill 2009 in November 2014 making it a law, which has the provision of compulsory voting in local bodies poll or face penal actions.
The bill also provides for 50 per cent reservation for women in the local bodies.
The bill, which was passed twice by Narendra Modi-led Gujarat government from the state Assembly, had faced stiff resistance from former Governor Dr Kamla Beniwal, saying that forcing voters to compulsorily vote violates Article 21 of the Constitution.

Dr Kamla had not cleared the Bill during her tenure, but after the change of guard in Governor's office, Kohli gave his go-ahead.