LS takes first step towards poll reforms

Taking a step in the direction of electoral reforms, the Lok Sabha today gave its assent to a Bill which makes it mandatory for those runnin...

Taking a step in the direction of electoral reforms, the Lok Sabha today gave its assent to a Bill which makes it mandatory for those running for Parliament and Assembly seats to disclose their criminal antecedents. They will also have to declare their assets and liabilities once they are elected.

The Representation of the People Amendment Bill 2002, was passed by a voice vote after a statutory resolution, moved by Samajwadi Party8217;s Ramjilal Suman and others, disapproving the RPA Amendment Ordinance was negated.

According to the Bill, a candidate contesting an election for Parliament or Assembly seats will be required to state whether he/she has been accused of any offence punishable with imprisonment for two years or more.

For the information of voters, a candidate will also have to state whether he/she has been convicted for any offence for a year or more. An elected candidate will also have to declare assets and liabilities before the presiding officer of the House concerned.

The candidate will be liable for penal action if he or she files a false affidavit or conceals information at the nomination stage.

Winding up a debate on the Bill, Minister of State for Law Ravi Shankar Prasad said the legislation was brought in after a consensus among parties on the amendments required in RPA. He said a provision for the candidate8217;s educational qualification was not included as the founding fathers of the Constitution were opposed to the idea. 8216;8216;An illeterate has as much common sense as a PhD or DLitt,8217;8217; he said.

The Government, he said, was keen on finding a solution to the funding of elections. In this regard, a Bill on corporate funding with tax exemption was pending, as was another Bill on open voting in Rajya Sabha.

Story continues below this ad

Earlier, initiating the debate on the Bill, P.R. Dasmunsi Congress said his party favoured transparency ahead of the polls and not after the polls.8216;8216;The candidate should declare his background before the polls. Even Atal Behari Vajpayee, when he was in the Opposition, had said this.8217;8217;

BJP8217;s Shivraj Singh Chauhan said it was a known fact that criminals had been winning elections. 8216;8216;We should accept this fact. Moreover, contesting elections is a very expensive affair today. People turn to business houses or go to those who have ill-gotten money.8217;8217; Chauhan was of the view that all elections be held in one year and the remaining four be devoted to development work.

Somnath Chatterjee of the CPM conceded that 8216;8216;well-known crooks are being re-elected and people with a long list of crimes are happily raising their voice against criminalisation of politics.8217;8217; Supporting the Bill, Chatterjee said parties must decide not to nominate any tainted candidate. He said he couldn8217;t understand why 8216;8216;those who have not contested elections8217;8217; should decide the rules for contesting elections.

Raghuvansh Prasad Singh of the RJD felt the Government hadn8217;t done its homework. He said: 8216;8216;If you look at the declaration of some of the ministers, it appears they are below poverty line. This is the problem.8217;8217;