Great social activist Chandikadas Amritrao Deshmukh (Nanaji Deshmukh) who devoted big last part of life by dedicated social service in remote tribal areas definitely deserved greatest national honour of Bharat Ratna. But need of the hour is to adopt ideal principles advocated by him public life. He declined post of Union Cabinet Minister in Morarji Desai government after emergency-era of 1975-77 only on the ground that he advocated the principle to stay away from politics after age of 60 years. But now politicians even at the age of eighties or nineties kept glued to legislative posts with some ones dreaming to be Prime Minister even at such high age.
In present era of too many aspirants in opposition for post of Prime Minister, only present BJP government at the centre can and do massive poll-reforms through an ordinance to be implemented in forthcoming Lok Sabha elections coming to be in next few months. On of the reform can be a tribute to great Nanaji Deshmukh by imposing an upper-age limit to remain in legislature after which membership of Lok Sabha or state-assemblies may be auto-terminated. However such an upper-age limit may not be there for members of Rajya Sabha to meet emergency-demand to make experienced person Prime Minister.
However absolute useless Legislative Councils in states set up just for political employment of favourites of political heavyweights may be abolished through an ordinance to be ratified by a Constitutional amendment later. These Upper Houses in states were abolished in many states after 1977 with just five states retaining Vidhan Parishads. But later many more states added these White Elephants on public-exchequers funded by hard-earned money of tax-payers.
MADHU AGRAWAL