New Delhi: Seeking to push electoral reforms,
Law Minister Salman Khurshid today met Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh to discuss proposals of his Ministry on the issue.
Khurshid is also understood to have apprised Singh about
the Law Ministry`s plans to call an all-party meeting on
electoral reforms some time later this month.
During the discussions, he is learnt to have requested
the Prime Minister to address the meeting.
The Law Ministry proposals on electoral reforms include
barring candidates against whom charges have been framed in
cases of heinous crimes besides limited state funding of
elections, sources said.
The proposals include change in Representation of People
Act to provide for state funding for women and Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes` candidates of recognised
political parties.
To get this benefit, candidates should not have an annual
income of more than Rs five lakh and movable or immovable
property worth more than Rs 22 lakh.
The limit would also include the income and assets of the
candidates` spouses, the sources said.
Another proposal makes it mandatory for candidates and
their parties to submit their accounts for audit by an agency
authorised only by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
The Prime Minister`s Office had asked the Law Ministry to
evolve a political consensus on its proposal on poll reforms.
PTI
