Election Commissioner seeks govt implementation of proposed amendments

New Delhi: Newly appointed Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar, had urged the Law ministry to issue notifications on certain proposed amendments. They include the linking of Aadhaar with voter IDs, prescribing four dates for eligible voters to register, commissions proposal to ban opinion polls and exit polls and limiting the seats from candidates could contest to one, The Indian Express reported.

The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021, by voice vote, has mandated the linking of electoral roll data with the Aadhar. Then the Opposition had walked out in protest, alleging that the Bill was passed in haste without required debate.

The EC further demanded powers to deregister political parties and sought amendments to 24A so that all donations above Rs 2,000 must be disclosed. The poll panel has been demanding this for a long time, as the current limit is above Rs 20,000. While Section 29A of the Representation of People Act, 1951 empowers EC to register associations and bodies as political parties, there are no provisions to deregister any.

Last month, EC had taken action against 'registered unrecognised political parties' (RUPPs). It had announced "graded action" against more than 2,100 RUPPs for violating rules such as failure to furnish a contribution report and communicate any change in its name, head office, office bearers and address to the EC.

In 2016 EC had said in its handbook of proposed electoral reforms suggested that there are many political parties formed to get the income tax exemption benefit but never contest in elections. The commission, which has the power to register parties, must have the power to deregister them too.