Abolish Legislative Councils

It is a common knowledge that state Legislative Councils (Vidhan Parishads) are nothing but white-elephants on state-exchequers to rehabilitate favourites and relations of political rulers at heavy public-cost, that too absolutely without any fruitful public-purpose. Vidhan Parishads in states which were gradually being abolished by many states in post-emergency period after 1977 with just five remaining at a time, are being gradually revived to politically rehabilitate favourites of political rulers.

Since these serve absolutely no purpose, constitutional provision of having Legislative Councils in states should altogether be abolished.Already massive misuse of the constitutional provision has been reported repeatedly. UP governor Ram Naik in the year 2015 returned list of nominees for state Legislative Council, where media-reports indicated that the list contained names of relations of political rulers in states and even some ones with criminal background.

Expelled Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD) Parliamentarian Pappu Yadav rightly demanded abolition of Vidhan Parishad which incidentally had former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi wife of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, and other close aids being members of Bihar Vidhan Parishad. As per media-reports HD Kumaraswamy was once caught in sting demanding cash for getting a person elected to Karnatak Vidhan Parishad.

Though even demands are being raised in Britain to abolish House of Lords, yet Rajya Sabha must be retained because it does serve some fruitful purpose. But stricter rules regarding attendance, continuous absence from the House and medical fitness, together with re-introducing secret vote to check use of money-power in Rajya Sabha elections should be formulated to avoid making it a club of billionaires and celebrities. Persons having lost any direct election must not be allowed to become Rajya Sabha members for next six years.

Madhu Agarwal, Delhi