CEC advocates rationalisation of election expenses
Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi today advocated rationalisation of ceiling of expenses in elections and said he would soon write to the government so that the existing expense limit may be increased.
"The expense in elections are 20-30 times more than the ceiling limit for it. The issue to rationalise the expense should be looked upon and I will be writing to the government in this regard soon", Quraishi said while addressing a 'Regional Consultation for Electoral Reforms' here.
"The expense limit may be increased to 1.5 to two fold. I will take suggestions from the political parties and try that the limit is increased before the next elections," Quraishi said.
He said there should be a ban on transfer of poll staff six months before and after elections (declaration of model code of conduct).
"It has been seen that poll staff allege victimisation after polls. There should also be ban on their transfer six months after polls", he said.
On wrong expenditure statement given by a candidate, the CEC said instead of their disqualification for three years it should be for six years so that they would not be able to contest even the next polls.
Saying that the Election Commission must be given rights to de-register political parties Quraishi said out of about 1200 registered parties only 150 are active.
Calling for a ban on opinion polls during elections, Quraishi said there was no guarantee of their genuinity with trend of "paid news" on the rise."Like exit polls, opinion polls should also be banned as there is no guarantee of their genuinity with the trend of paid news on the rise", Quraishi said.
"The public consider, opinion polls as genuine but it is not guaranteed", he said.
The CEC also suggested banning advertisements in print media and door to door campaigning 48 hours before polls.
"The advertisements in the print media may also be banned as the candidates do not get time to counter propaganda, if any, against them," he said.
"I think there should be no door to door campaigning 48 hours before the elections. As this promotes distribution of liquor and money among voters. The voters should be relieved from the campaigning harassment and decide on their candidates," Quraishi said.
The Chief Election Commissioner sought support of Chief Minister Mayawati for ensuring hundred per cent enrolment of voters in the state in the next one year."I seek support of Mayawatiji for setting up of voter service centres in every constituency to ensure hundred per cent enrolment of voters, with zero error in the state", CEC S Y Quraishi said.
He also asked the CM to include voters' education in school curriculum to educate them about importance of voting rights in democracy.
Quraishi said the proposal of strengthening and reforming electoral process has been pending in the Law ministry for the past 20 years.
"The proposal for strengthening and reforming electoral process is pending with Law ministry for past 20 years but not no progress could be made. The process has gained momentum only after I became CEC and requested law minister Veerappa Moily in this regard", he said.
The reform process has been discussed in consultations, and the final one will be the national consultation that will be held in New Delhi in April after which recommendation would be given to the Law minister, he said.
