NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Raghav Chadha on Wednesday urged Parliament to consider introducing a nationwide “Right to Recall” mechanism, arguing that voters should have the authority to remove elected representatives before their five-year term ends if they fail to deliver.
Speaking during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Chadha said that while citizens have the constitutional right to elect MPs and MLAs, there is currently no direct provision to “de-elect” them mid-term on grounds of non-performance or misconduct.
“Five Years Is Too Long”
Chadha stressed that a five-year tenure is a long time to wait if an elected representative underperforms.
“Five years is a long tenure,” he said, adding that in most professions, consistent underperformance carries consequences — something he believes should apply to public office as well.
He argued that introducing a structured and legally defined recall process would enhance democratic accountability. India already has constitutional provisions for the impeachment of the President, Vice President, and judges, as well as no-confidence motions against governments. Extending similar principles to individual legislators, he said, would strengthen oversight.
If voters can HIRE a neta, they should be able to FIRE the neta too.
If Indian voters have the Right to Elect, they should have the ‘RIGHT TO RECALL’ too.
Right to Recall is a mechanism that empowers voters to de-elect an elected representative, before their term ends, if they… pic.twitter.com/6mB4gpQKPu
— Raghav Chadha (@raghav_chadha) February 11, 2026
What Is the Right to Recall?
The Right to Recall (RTR) allows voters to initiate a formal process to remove an elected representative before the end of their term. In India, such provisions exist only at the local body level in certain states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Bihar for positions such as sarpanches and mayors.
There is currently no nationwide law enabling voters to recall MPs or MLAs, although the concept has been debated since the Constituent Assembly. At the time, Dr B.R. Ambedkar did not accept the proposal to include recall provisions in the Constitution.
Chadha pointed out that over 20 democracies globally, including the United States and Switzerland, have some form of voter-initiated recall system.
Safeguards to Prevent Misuse
Acknowledging concerns about political instability, Chadha proposed several safeguards to prevent misuse of the mechanism:
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A verified petition supported by at least 35–40% of registered voters in a constituency to trigger a recall vote.
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A cooling-off period of at least 18 months after an election before a recall can be initiated.
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Limiting recall grounds to proven misconduct, corruption, fraud, or serious neglect of duty — not routine political disagreements.
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Removal only if more than 50% of voters support the recall in a formal vote.
Chadha said such a framework would incentivize political parties to nominate credible candidates, reduce corruption, and improve governance standards.
The proposal is likely to spark fresh debate over electoral reforms and accountability mechanisms in Indian democracy.
