National

Laloo against `election' of PM, CMs

By Our Staff Correspondent

PATNA APRIL 1. The RJD president, Laloo Prasad Yadav, today opposed the recommendation of the Constitution Review Commission that the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers be chosen by the Lok Sabha and respective Assemblies and described it as an anti-democratic step.

Mr.Yadav alleged that the BJP's objective was to corner the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, by amending the Constitution for its own benefit. There was nothing wrong with the Constitution. If at all the system had to be changed, the Prime Minister should be elected directly and a similar approach could be adopted for the Chief Ministers as well. But the ``via media'' suggested by the Commission was not at all acceptable.

The recommendation, if accepted, would lead to misuse of the system by vested interests and harm people's mandate. An indirect election allowed for cross-voting, a bitter taste of which the BJP had in the recent Lok Sabha election.

The RJD leader feared that a man with money could become a Prime Minister and make a mockery of democracy. Moreover, the party with a majority too might find the proposed arrangement to its disadvantage, as the other opposing it would be partaking in the decision-making.

Mr.Yadav however favoured dissolution of the Upper House and do away with the bicarmel system at the State level.

Our New Delhi Special Correspondent reports:

The Congress has refused to react to the recommendations made by the Commission. The party spokesman, Anand Sharma, said the Congress had already rejected the setting up of the Commission, which in was "aimed at bypassing Parliament".

Mr. Sharma said his party was yet to receive a copy of the recommendations. While the report had suggested certain key changes in the electoral laws it had left open the controversial issue of barring people of foreign origin from occupying high constitutional positions.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Critical mass for exports being attained: Maran
• CBI urged to review arrests
• `No change in BJP stand on U.P.'
• BJP chief hints at party restructuring
• Laloo against `election' of PM, CMs
• Violence claims three more lives in Gujarat
• PM to chair meet on panchayats
• President's nod for eight Bills
• SC notice to Jayalalithaa in `hotel case'
• Karnataka against enforcing POTA
• Water harnessing, a national priority: PM
• VHP wants Farooq sacked
• Oil industry moves to new decontrolled era

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu