Sumitra Mahajan for 'control on expenditure' by political parties

AGARTALA: Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan today favoured "control on expenditure by political parties" but ruled out state-funded elections.

"I don't see state-funded elections in the country in the near future but there must be a sort of control on expenditure (by political parties)," she said here on the sideline of the 15th conference of Northeast Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.

Election Commission is working on ways to bring transparency in poll expenditure by the political parties, Mahajan said.

Population and their choice play a key role in the battle of ballots, the Lok Sabha Speaker said, adding there is difference in poll pattern in plain and hilly areas.

On the quality of discussions in Parliament, she said, "There is a room for improvement but it does not mean that quality debate is not taking place in Parliament."

Speakers Research Institute (SRI) has been formed to bring improvement in the quality of the MPs and legislators which in turn ensure quality debate or discussion in Parliament as well as in the Assemblies, Mahajan said.