Campaigning restrictions: Karat flays CEC

8220;What he does not realise is that the EC, wittingly or unwittingly, has struck a blow on the right of every political party and citizens to participate in the democratic process,8221; Karat said. According to him, parties like the CPIM consider election not merely an opportunity to get candidates elected but also as an occasion for a party to campaign politically to put across its views and policies. It seeks to do so by putting up posters, distributing leaflets, widespread display of slogans and messages with a political content, he said.

Karat said he would not oppose if the EC had stopped lavish hoardings, big cutouts, use of vehicle processions, as all these require huge financial resources. By prohibiting ordinary political campaigning the EC has facilitated more expensive forms of electioneering, as a poor man8217;s party would use wall writing and in villages even handwritten posters to put across its message, Karat said.