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'Not poll body's job to...': CPI(M) slams EC proposal on political parties' poll promises

The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday proposed to change the model code to ask political parties to provide authentic information to voters on financial viability of their poll promises. The move comes amid the freebies versus welfare measures debate that has sparked a political row in the recent weeks.

TN National Desk

Updated Oct 5, 2022, 23:45 IST

Election Commission - file pic

Photo : PTI

New Delhi: A day after the Election Commission suggested that political parties should inform voters how their poll promises will be funded, the Left parties said it was not the poll body's job to "regulate" policy pronouncements of political parties.

In a letter to all recognised national and state parties, the poll body has said empty poll promises have “far-reaching ramifications”, adding that it could not overlook the inadequate disclosures on election promises and consequential undesirable impact on financial sustainability.

Describing EC’s proposal an unwarranted move, the CPI(M) said it was not in favour of any attempt to regulate the right of political parties to address people's concerns.

"The Constitution mandates the EC to conduct free and fair elections. It is not the Election Commission's job to regulate policy pronouncements and welfare measures that political parties promise to the people. This is solely the prerogative of political parties in a democracy," the CPI(M) said in a statement.

"We strongly oppose to any effort to circumscribe or regulate the right of political parties to address people's concerns and offer policy measures to ameliorate their problems," it said.

The party also said the EC, had in an affidavit to the Supreme Court in April, stated that the poll watchdog could not regulate policy decisions of political parties and that it would be an overreach of powers.

"It is surprising that the Election Commission has now taken a contrary stand. Is this due to pressure being exercised by the executive," it asked.

The CPI also objected to the EC’s proposal and said the EC's move was "uncalled for" and would affect the independence of political parties to decide on their agenda.

"The Election Commission is in fact mandated by the Constitution of India to hold free and fair election. It has no authority to take steps to regulate the policies of political parties. Hence, such moves are violation of the mandate, disrespecting the Constitution and curbing the statutory rights of political parties," it said in a separate statement.

Earlier, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in a response to EC’s move had said governments should spend the taxpayers money to provide facilities to people, not to benefit political leaders, their family members and friends.

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