Date: 
29.08.2010

BHUBANESWAR: Orissa Election Watch, a pressure group that works on bringing in reforms in election processes, demanded ensuring of inner party democracy within the political parties and audit of the funding of the political parties at a high priority.

Participants including former judges, Director General of Police, prominent politicians and civil society leaders expressed concerns over the increasing influence of criminal elements in politics and virtual takeover of the politics by money power.

They stressed on the need for keeping criminal elements away from democratic processes at the two-day convention on Electoral and Political Reforms that began from Saturday.

Justice S.C. Mohapatra, former Lokpal of Orissa released the book on disha Election Watch 2009: Analysis of Criminal and Financial Background of MLAs and Candidates. Parties should strive towards changing the mindset of operating through the high command, Justice Mohapatra said.

Pointing out at presence of leaders with dubious characters in politics, A.B. Tripathy, former DGP and Adviser Orissa Election watch said, it is a matter of great concern that even when the criminal background is established for a leader, people cannot take any action against their elected representative as our constitution and laws are silent on banning the criminals.

City: 
BHUBANESWAR
Source url: 
http://www.hindu.com/2010/08/29/stories/2010082952420300.htm
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