Trinamool MPs demand state funding of polls

TMC MPs today staged protest on Parliament premises, pitching for state funding of polls to combat corruption and also asked national political parties to come clean on their funding sources. "Our leader Mamata Banerjee has been insisting on holding state-funded polls. It is required to stop corruption," party MP Kalyan Banerjee told reporters during the protest near the Mahatma Gandhi statue.

Referring to the electoral reform announced by the Centre in the budget about capping cash donation from a source to Rs 2000, Banerjee asked national parties to come clear from where and how much funds they received over the past decade. Without naming the BJP, Banerjee alleged it had deposited Rs three crore in a bank in West Bengal and had allegedly purchased land parcels in Bihar, both "just ahead" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing demonetisation on November 8 last year.

"To stop such corruption, you need state-funded polls," he said. The TMC MPs, from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, indulged in sloganeering during the protest, insisting that the government take the initiative to bring such reforms.