Date: 
17.08.2011

Bangalore: Social activist Anna Hazare's agitation has kindled hopes of a social movement against corruption. However, the movement will serve the purpose only partially unless an equally strong public opinion is generated for poll reforms.

The rising expenditure of fighting elections has effectively closed the doors for political aspirations of honest and ordinary citizens.

"The agitation against corruption should be broad-based if we have to score at least some success against corruption. Stringent electoral reforms are needed to strike at the root cause of corruption," says Tri-lochan Shastry, founder and chairman of Association for Democratic Reforms.

With most of the candidates spending more than Rs 10 crore in assembly elections and over Rs 20 crore to Rs 50 crore in Lok Sabha polls, one can easily guess what will be the first priority of these candidates after winning.

The Election Commission of India seized Rs 50 crore in hard cash during the recent assembly polls in Tamil Nadu. Shastry says that about Rs 40,000 crore of black money is involved in the electoral battle for the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

"Once such a huge amount is spent, the priority will be to recover it fast. Electoral reforms with stringent penal clauses are the need of the hour. Disqualification of candidates from contesting any elections for misuse of money power will go a long way in curbing poll malpractices. We often see candidates going to campaign with a convoy of hundreds of vehicles and money and booze. The offenders escape with a reprimand or a fine. A change in law with strong penal clause is needed," he says.

Sandeep Shastry, political analyst and pro-vice chancellor of Jain University, advocates the need for curbing the use of black money in elections to win the battle against corruption.

"India cannot afford to bear the poll expenses of candidates, but we can consider state subsidy for it. We should look at streamlining the modes of campaign and government subsidising part of the expenses. A comprehensive law to curb the use of black money in elections is a must to tackle the menace of corruption," he says.

"Holding party organisational elections on mandatory basis and choosing the candidates to fight elections through democratic system instead of the culture of high command or an individual leader in the party on the basis of money power, caste or other considerations should be banned," he said.

City: 
Bangalore
Source url: 
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/BAN-poll-reforms-other-half-of-the-battle-2358904.html
Author: 
Hemanth Kumar, DNA
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