Consensus eludes meet on poll reforms

Political parties on Wednesday failed to reach a consensus on electoral reforms at an all-party meeting convened by the Election Commission.

However, the proposal for fixing the number of election commissioners at three was agreed upon by the parties. It was also decided that the power to raise the election expense limit of the electoral candidates would be vested with the Commission.

The meeting was attended by all the seven national political parties and 33 of the 38 recognised regional political parties.

Summing up the discussions, Chief Election Commissioner M S Gill told the media the parties agreed that the two election commissioners should be provided security on par with Supreme Court judges.

The parties, however, opposed the Commission's proposal of scrapping the regional election commissioner's post. So also its idea of having the power to punish public servants on election duty. However, some parties were of the view that the Commission should have the power to tackle errant officials.

As for the issue of registration of political parties, no consensus could be achieved.

Contending that the political parties bring animals for campaigning, the Commission proposed a ban on the use of animals as election symbols. Though no concrete solution could be evolved in this regard, the parties welcomed Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj's suggestion the Commission could issue a directive banning the use of animals in the election campaign.

The Bahujan Samaj Party made a strong plea that its symbol of elephant should be granted to it on the national basis as it had fulfilled all the Commission's requirements.

The question of raising the election expense limit was opposed by the BSP, pleading that it would further affect ''the party of the poor''.

The proposal regarding the use of government-controlled media in direct proportion to a party's voting percentage or number of seats was opposed by the BJP. The party said all the national parties should get an equal share irrespective of their strength or percentage of votes.

The parties also discussed the issue of voter's identity cards. While some political parties opposed it, most were of the view that it should be introduced. It was also suggested that numbered cards should be issued to avoid multiple voting.

UNI