Govt seeking consensus on poll reforms: Bhardwaj

Union Law Minister H R Bhardwaj has said that the Government is trying to evolve a consensus among political parties on certain proposals it received from the EC on electoral reforms.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Bhardwaj said the Government had been exploring ways to bring about electoral reforms based on the recommendations of various committees, beside that of the EC and the Law Commission. However, no time frame could be given in this regard as electoral reforms is a continuous and ongoing process and could be carried out only through consensus among political parties. Bhardwaj said that the Government had not received any proposal from the EC for making a law that would vest power with the CEC to disqualify and impose penalties on violators of model code of conduct.

“Though earlier there was a proposal from the EC for a statutory backing to the model code of conduct, in July 1998, after the experience gained through successfully conducting a large number of elections in the country, the EC withdrew its proposal,” he said.

Bhardwaj also said the Centre was not in favour of accepting the recommendations of the Law panel regarding withdrawal of life support system from the terminally ill patients.