Right to Recall not possible: CEC SY Qureshi

On his last day in office as Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) SY Qureshi rejected senior BJP leader LK Advani's demand for a collegium to choose the Election Commissioner and also Team Anna's demand for a Right to Recall MPs. Qureshi said that his greatest regret was he was unable to stop money power in elections. Qureshi spoke to CNN-IBN's Deputy Chief of Bureau Pallavi Ghosh.

Here is an excerpt of the interview:

Pallavi Ghosh: Mr Advani has spoken about a collegium on the Election Commission? You agree? You think it is possible?

Qureshi also said that his greatest regret was he was unable to stop money power in elections.

SY Qureshi: I have a different take on this. I don't think it is possible to have a collegium. You can choose on the Election Commissioners but it would not be right to have a collegium on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC). Election Commissioners should be promoted.

Pallavi Ghosh: What about money power? We saw it in the recent Andhra Pradesh by-polls? Does it upset you?

SY Qureshi: Yes. The one unfinished task I have left is we haven't been able to fight money power. Two things I had on agenda. One was money power and the other was voter apathy which I could deal with.

Pallavi Ghosh: And Team Anna's demand for a Right to Recall? You think that is possible?

SY Qureshi: Right to Recall is not possible. This would give rise to controversies. In India it is easy to get 5000 letters signed.

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