Major electoral reforms are on cards. The Election Commission has made a set of suggestions and recommendations to the Union Law Ministry for its consideration.
The poll panel is seeking to “overhaul” the basic and entire process of elections in the country, sources said adding the EC wants to bring in certain changes to The Representation of the People Act.
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju’s office tweeted to say, “The Centre will take steps after due consultation for major electoral reforms which are required as per the new changing time and situation.”
The government is in discussion with the Election Commission to bring in major electoral reforms.
Law Minister Rijiju has said that the changing time and situation demands an overhaul of some electoral laws that are lacking in ensuring adequate transparency and accountability.
In order to curb the use of black money in elections, the EC has recently written to the Law ministry to bring changes to cap cash donations received by parties to 20 percent of their total receipts. It had also proposed lowering the disclosure limit of anonymous donations from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2,000.
Recently, the EC has said that even freebies culture in Indian politics ought to be checked and for that it may add on a new column wherein political parties making promises of freebies and various welfare measures have to justify how the expenditures would be met.
