Bhopal, June 18: Stressing the need for drastic electoral reforms, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh today said accounts of all political parties should be audited annually and their fund raising mechanism made fully transparent to check corruption. Addressing a two-day workshop organised jointly by the academy of administration and transparency international, New Delhi, here yesterday, he said centralised system of governance provided ample scope for corruption while transparency, people's participation and annual assessment of properties were requisite tools to check the menace.
Describing as myth the general perception that money power makes candidates win elections, Singh said there were several examples showing that candidates have emerged victorious even after spending a meagre amount and those losing the poll even after spending lavishly. Stressing the need for a continuous dialogue between the government and the people and adopting a transparent decision-making process, Singh said the right to information intended to serve both these purposes.
The Centre did not give its approval to Madhya Pradesh's resolution for enactment of right to information legislation, he said and added that despite this the state government had implemented it though desired results could not be achieved for want of public awareness.

Bureau Report