Not in favour of state funding of elections: EC

 

NEW DELHI:  The Election Commission while not favouring state funding of elections has  sought radical changes in the way funds are being spent by political parties.

The Election Commission had told a Parliamentary Committee on Law and Personnel that it was not in  favour of state funding as it would be unable to prohibit or keep a check on the candidates’ own  expenditures or the expenditures of others over and above that which was provided by the state.

Putting its view in front of the Parliamentary panel, the EC said that for addressing the real issue, radical  changes were needed in provisions pertaining to receipt of funds by political parties and the manner in  which such funds were spent by them so that it provided complete transparency.

The issue of electoral reform has got a new focus of late with focus on having a corruption-free policy  since the run-up to the last Lok Sabha elections.

Since then the issue of criminalisation of politics and including the process of election and the corruption  involved in the funding of political parties has almost been a subject of continuous national debate.  (AGENCIES)