By IANS,
Jaipur : In the first ever “right to recall” voting in Rajasthan, a municipality chairman has been able to retain his elected position as voters cast their ballot against his recall, officials said Friday.
In accordance with the Rajasthan Municipal Act, 2009 — that gives the voter the right to recall — people of Mangrol Nagar Palika (municipality) in Baran district, 300 km from Jaipur, voted in the election Wednesday.
In the general elections, voters cast their votes in favour of candidates whereas in right to recall elections, votes are cast in the favour of the motion and against the motion.
“The counting of votes took place today (Friday). A total of 10,988 voters exercised their right. Of them, 7,243 votes were against the recall,” said a Baran district election commission officer.
Chairmen and mayors of the municipalities and municipal corporations are elected directly by the people in Rajasthan.
The officer added that the voting was held about 11 months after 17 of the 20 members of the Mangrol Nagar Palika moved a no-confidence motion against the elected chairman Ashok Jain.
“The no-confidence motion was passed Jan 4. The proposal to recall Ashok Jain was forwarded to the district election officer and then the state government. When it passed each of these stages, the election to recall the chairman was held Wednesday. However, as only around 34 per cent people voted in favour of the recall, the chairman will retain his position,” said the officer.