Accusing CPI-M of attempting to 'subjugate' the Election Commission into a monitoring body, BJP on Thursday dubbed the Left party's document outlining reforms of the poll watchdog as a "complete charter for rigging".
"They (CPI-M) want subjugation of the Election Commission to a monitoring body. Barring two positive suggestions, the Left party document on the Commission is a complete charter for electoral rigging", BJP general secretary Arun Jaitley said in a statement on Thursday night.
He said EC is constituted under Article 324 of the Constitution where some powers are specified in election laws. "Wherever no power is specified, Article 324 is a reservoir of all powers necessary for free conduct of polls".
He also defended deployment of central para-military forces against the state police saying it has helped free and fair elections in the recent past but "CPI-M thinks otherwise".
Jaitley, himself a noted lawyer, said review of EC acts can be made by the High Court or the Supreme Court and not by an executive body. "Any monitoring of EC by government or their nominee (as suggested by CPI-M) would be destructive of the independence of EC.
He is also of the view that the Model Code of Conduct is not non-statutory any more and it has the mandate of Article 324.
{{/usCountry}}He is also of the view that the Model Code of Conduct is not non-statutory any more and it has the mandate of Article 324.
{{/usCountry}}The former Union Law Minister also said that regulation of publicity material and election expenses are part of EC's job to regulate the law relating to expenses and that the power of EC regarding electoral roll revision cannot be curtailed.