Election Commission wants parties to disclose cost of ‘revdi’, and how it will be funded | Political Pulse News,The Indian Express
Parties will also have to mention how these promises can be financed; new consultation paper to be floated soon
Cognisant of the fact that there is no legislative space to define freebies or welfare — even as the Supreme Court is hearing the freebies petition — the Election Commission wants political parties to elaborate on the rationale for announcing such promises and the financing plan.
Sources in the Election Commission said that while political parties can’t be stopped from making promises, the voter too has a right to be informed to make an informed choice.
Hence the ECI has sought elaborate disclosures by parties and the state government or the Central government. This is expected to let voters compare political parties and understand if the promises can indeed be met.
The ECI has proposed that each state chief secretary and the Union finance secretary — whenever or wherever the elections are held — provide details of tax and expenditure in a specified format.
“The idea is to make a physical and financial quantification of promise… if it’s a farm loan waiver, then will it be available to all farmers, or only small and marginal farmers, etc. Further, how will it be funded given the committed and developmental expenditure set aside by the state or the Centre,” a source said. The ECI hopes to call parties for consultation on the paper, before it can make necessary changes in the Model Code of Conduct ahead of elections.
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