The Kerala Congress has suggested that party president Rahul Gandhi should contest the Lok Sabha election from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat, besides Amethi in Uttar Pradesh.
About:
Present status:
According to Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a person can contest a general election or a group of bye-elections or biennial elections from a maximum of 2 constituencies.
The list of leaders who contested from more than one seat includes Indira Gandhi, Biju Patnaik, N T Rama Rao and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Reasons for contesting from multiple seats:
Stopping candidates from contesting from two different constituencies, infringes on a person’s right to contest the polls and curtails the polity’s choice of candidates.
It provides insurance against any shock defeat.
It allows candidates to provide attention to more than one region in an electoral contest.
Opposition:
When a candidate contests from two seats, it is imperative that he/she has to vacate one of the two seats should he win both.
This leads to consequent unavoidable financial burden on the public exchequer and the manpower and other resources for holding by-election against the resultant vacancy.
It would also be an injustice to the voters of the constituency which the candidate is quitting from.
Suggestions:
Amend Section 33(7) of the Representation of People Act to prevent candidates from contesting on multiple seats.
In case the present provision is retained then the person, contesting and winning from two seats, should bear the cost of the by-election after he quits one constituency. The amount could be Rs. 5 lakhs for state assembly and Rs 10 lakh for general election.
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