02-15-2006, 09:14 PM
<!--emo&:angry:--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif' /><!--endemo--> Parties disagree on poll funding proposal
- A Vaidyanathan
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 (New Delhi):
The Election Commission met leaders from 50 recognised political parties to get their views on a government proposal for state funding of elections.
Among the proposals, the government will give a candidate a certain amount of free fuel, a free party office with a free phone as well as stamps and loudspeaker systems for campaigning.
But political parties differ amongst themselves over a limit on the funding.
Focus on funds
The issue is that if a Lok Sabha candidate can spend up to Rs 25 lakh, his party spends a lot more for his or her campaign.
"<span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'><span style='font-family:Times'>Expenses incurred by the political parties should not be included in the funding. It should be kept out of the purview," said Abhishek Manu Singhvi, spokesperson, Congress.</span></span>
But both the BJP and the Left want a limit on both the party and the candidate's expenses in each constituency.
"There should not be any other funding to the candidate," said VK Malhotra, spokesperson, BJP.
Left parties believe the proposal in its present form, would deny smaller parties a level playing field where funds are crucial for a strong election campaign.
"Unless there is a limit for poll expenditure by the party, there will not be any level playing field," said Nilotpal Basu, leader, CPI(M).
Ambitious plan
Representatives from the Congress, BJP and four other national parties, besides 44 state parties attended the meeting.
"We will finalise our recommendations and send it to political parties before forwarding it to the Centre," said BB Tandon, Chief Election Commissioner.
It is an ambitious plan to get the government to pay for election campaign. Not surprisingly, the political parties failed to reach a consensus in this issue.
The key difference ranges from complete funding of elections by the government to strict compliance of ceiling on the candidates.
- A Vaidyanathan
Wednesday, February 15, 2006 (New Delhi):
The Election Commission met leaders from 50 recognised political parties to get their views on a government proposal for state funding of elections.
Among the proposals, the government will give a candidate a certain amount of free fuel, a free party office with a free phone as well as stamps and loudspeaker systems for campaigning.
But political parties differ amongst themselves over a limit on the funding.
Focus on funds
The issue is that if a Lok Sabha candidate can spend up to Rs 25 lakh, his party spends a lot more for his or her campaign.
"<span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'><span style='font-family:Times'>Expenses incurred by the political parties should not be included in the funding. It should be kept out of the purview," said Abhishek Manu Singhvi, spokesperson, Congress.</span></span>
But both the BJP and the Left want a limit on both the party and the candidate's expenses in each constituency.
"There should not be any other funding to the candidate," said VK Malhotra, spokesperson, BJP.
Left parties believe the proposal in its present form, would deny smaller parties a level playing field where funds are crucial for a strong election campaign.
"Unless there is a limit for poll expenditure by the party, there will not be any level playing field," said Nilotpal Basu, leader, CPI(M).
Ambitious plan
Representatives from the Congress, BJP and four other national parties, besides 44 state parties attended the meeting.
"We will finalise our recommendations and send it to political parties before forwarding it to the Centre," said BB Tandon, Chief Election Commissioner.
It is an ambitious plan to get the government to pay for election campaign. Not surprisingly, the political parties failed to reach a consensus in this issue.
The key difference ranges from complete funding of elections by the government to strict compliance of ceiling on the candidates.