EC seeks power to control poll spending

Just ahead of the Bihar polls, the Chief Election Commissioner has brought to fore ‘a reform proposal’ pending with the government for more than 12 years.

Just ahead of the Bihar polls, the Chief Election Commissioner has brought to fore ‘a reform proposal’ pending with the government for more than 12 years.

HT Image

At a time when the influence of illegal money reached unprecedented heights in elections, the CEC S.Y. Quraishi appealed to the government to delegate powers to the commission ‘to rationalise the spending limits by the candidates in campaigning’.

“If the Law Ministry wants, let it bring in an amendment bill to (Representation of People’s Act) rationalising the present (low) limits, otherwise let the powers be transferred to us so that we can bring in some rationale and control (to the spending),” Quraishi told HT.

Speaking at a meet on electoral reforms recently, Quraishi asked Law Minister Veerappa Moily (sharing the dais) to act on the reforms. Though Moily said he was ready for some shifts he did not specify the steps being taken by the government. “There are limits but actual spending is 10s or even 100 times of what is prescribed. Let us reassess .... the limits based on price situation, increase in electorate in consultation with political parties. The measure will lead to more legal spending ...,” the CEC added.