Election Commission black money measures need legal backing: Congress

NEW DELHI: Congress has said legal backing is needed to implement some of the draft guidelines of the Election Commission sent to all major political parties to curb blackmoney in the poll process while TMC and CPI(M) have backed the measures.

The EC had issued a set of draft "revised" guidelines to political parties in February asking them to give their suggestions within a fortnight.

In its response, Congress has said the new measures would need a legal backing and changes in the Representation of Peoples Act, official sources said today.

Congress, along with the Samajwadi Party and a few other political outfits, have also expressed their reservations on the proposed EC norms which mandate that proper records should be maintained for any cash donation received by the party over Rs 1,000.

The parties have opined that such a measure would not be feasible for them to follow.

However, the Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) have by and large agreed with the guidelines.

The EC, the sources said, is yet to receive comments from the BJP and BSP in this regard.

In its guidelines, the Commission asked political parties not to give cash to their candidates in a bid to curb the menace of blackmoney in elections.

The EC had initially framed these guidelines in September last year, following which political parties were asked to send suggestions before the EC brings these directions into force.