Lucknow: Chief Election Commissioner S Y
Quraishi on Sunday 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 victimization
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.
PTI
