Charge expenses from those who quit: Mann’s appeal to EC

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 10

Taking a dig at his own party’s former MLA HS Phoolka, state AAP convener Bhagwant Mann said the Election Commission should bring reforms by introducing a law for those MLAs or MPs who resigned at their own wish without completing the five-year term.

Mann said it had been seen that the elected representatives, including MP or MLA, without completing their term opt to contest other elections. He said huge amount was spent on bypoll after the elected MP or MLA resigned midway. The EC should recover bypoll expenditure from such MLAs or MPs so that public money didn’t go waste. Mann, however, did not name Phoolka.

Addressing a gathering at a village in Dakha, Mann said, “I will raise the issue in Lok Sabha’s winter session. The EC should bring a law for the elected representatives who resign without completing their term.”

He also suggested that there should be a rule that if any MLA or MP resigned midway, the first runner-up should be declared winner as it would save the public money.