New Delhi, December 27
A 10-point proposal on state funding of election has been formulated by the government and the Election Commission has been asked to finalise its view after consulting all political parties.
The Union Cabinet cleared the state funding of election concept in the wake of cash-for-query scam, and the move is aimed at reducing the politician-criminal nexus and minimise the use of money power in electioneering.
An official note today said that of the 10 proposals, three pertained to the recognised political parties and seven to their candidates.
The Law Ministry release said under the proposals, recognised political parties would be given suitable rent-free accommodation for their headquarters with one rent-free telephone with STD facility and time on private cable television and other electronic media network.
The commission has been asked to finalise its views in consultation with the recognised political parties and after taking into account parameters such as the geographical features and means of communication.
The candidates of recognised parties are sought to be provided specified quantity of petrol/diesel, paper for printing and postal stamps for certain amount.
For an Assembly election, it is proposed to provide each candidate with one set of loudspeaker and for a parliamentary election, one set of loudspeaker for every Assembly segment, subject to a maximum of six such sets.
Similarly, one telephone with a specified number of free calls will be provided to each candidate in the case of an Assembly election. In the case of Lok Sabha poll, the candidates will get one such phone for each Assembly segment, subject to a maximum of six telephones.
On the day of poll, some minimum arrangements may be made for the candidates’ camps at each polling station.
Supply of refreshments and food packets are proposed for the counting agents inside the counting hall.
The question of removing money power in elections and the malpractices connected therewith has been receiving the Central Government’s attention for quite some time.
In 1972, the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Amendment to Election Laws had suggested that the burden of legitimate election expenses borne by candidates or the political parties be shifted to the state.
The Tarkunde Committee (1978) appointed by the Citizens For Democracy had also suggested the form of financial assistance that may be given through public revenue to the candidates.
The Committee on Electoral Reforms (Dinesh Goswami Committee, 1990) had also recommended state funding of elections but only in kind.
The Law Commission of India in its 170th Report on Review of Election Laws (1999) recommended that in the present situation only partial state funding could be contemplated as a first step towards state funding.
On June 7, 2004, the President in his address to the joint session of Parliament had announced that as part of the government’s commitment on electoral reforms, it would consider steps to introduce state funding of elections.
The state funding of elections is also one of the items of the National Common Minimum Programme of the UPA government.
