Govt refuses to give a time frame for electoral reforms

NEW DELHI: Government today said that it cannot lay down any time frame for electoral reforms keeping in mind the "complexity" of the subject. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Union Law and Justice Minister Ashwani Kumar said, "In view of the complexity of the subject, it is not possible to lay down any rigid time-frame in this regard."

He was asked whether the government proposes to carry out comprehensive electoral reforms.

Giving details of the steps taken by government in this regard, Kumar said, "With a view to carrying out comprehensive electoral reforms, a Core Committee was constituted on October 1, 2010 under the Chairmanship of Vivek K Tankha, Additional Solicitor General."
The talking points of the Committee included decriminalisation of politics, funding of elections, conduct and better management of elections, regulations of political parties, audit and finances of political parties and review of anti-defection law, he added. The Committee under the aegis of Legislative Department and in co-sponsorship of the Election Commission of India conducted seven regional consultations at Bhopal, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, Chandigarh, Bengaluru and Guwahati, the reply said.

The consultations included various stakeholders such as leaders and workers of political parties, legislators, legal luminaries, representatives of NGOs, eminent persons, civil servants and students. "On basis of the inputs received in these consultations, discussion with all political parties is contemplated," Kumar said.