Fresh from its electoral victory in West Bengal where an unprecedented five-phased assembly poll was held, CPI(M) on Friday sought a debate in Parliament over the role and powers of the Election Commission and suggested a uniform set of rules to guide the poll panel on conducting elections.
However, the party was quick to point out that in no way should the independence and integrity of the EC be hampered in this process.
CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechury and Basudeb Acharia referred the "discriminatory" policies pursued by the poll panel in holding one-day polling in Tamil Nadu and a five-phased one in West Bengal, saying there was no justification in doing so.
They told reporters that the recent assembly polls had raised serious questions about the nature and role of EC and called for reforms to be carried out in the poll panel and its functioning and powers.
"If the EC had problems with the talk about OBC quota in educational institutions, why was it silent on the Rathyatras (of the BJP)?" the leaders said.
Adopting a stern posture against the UPA government, Yechury and Acharia said the assembly poll mandate was a clear signal to the ruling coalition to implement the Common Minimum Programme with full vigour, particularly the programmes affecting the common man.
{{/usCountry}}Adopting a stern posture against the UPA government, Yechury and Acharia said the assembly poll mandate was a clear signal to the ruling coalition to implement the Common Minimum Programme with full vigour, particularly the programmes affecting the common man.
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