CEC Nasim Zaidi seeks more transparency in poll funding

The available resources, as a consequence, are usually cornered by cash-rich parties and their candidates, thereby disturbing the level playing field, he said.

Citing the practice of “paid news” and under-reporting of election expenses by candidates as examples, he said such practices increase the chances of candidates with resources “as compared with less resourceful parties and candidates.” He also underlined the need for a proper law to regulate electoral trusts as “donations by corporates and private entities can lead to favourable policies… (by the politicians for the donors)”.

“We are of the view that a legal ban on paid news, adding party and third party expenses in the constituency to the candidates’ accounts followed by strong public disclosure and penalties may bring the overall cost down at constituency level (for election related expenditure),” he said.

Till such strong reforms are adopted, it will not be feasible to implement other radical suggestions like state funding of elections, he said. If it (reforms) is not done, Zaidi said, the EC “suspects state funding will become one more additional tool, one more additional source of funds without reduction of use of illegal money in election campaign and this in a way can restrict the participation of right thinking citizens (in the polls process in the country).”