NEW DELHI: Regional parties in Meghalaya have objected to the idea of ‘one nation one election’ mooted by the Centre and supported by Chief Minister Conrad Sangma.
HSPDP legislators Renikton L. Tongkhar and Samlin Malngiang, who attended a meeting of the Election Commission on Monday, said several states, including Meghalaya, had gone to the Assembly polls this year and “to face the polls again along with the Lok Sabha election will be very difficult for them”.
The Election Commission held the meeting with all national and recognised regional parties in New Delhi to discuss issues related to election procedures.
The proposal to return to paper ballot also did not find support as parties feared rerun of booth capturing, EC sources said after the meeting.
The debate over going back to paper ballots started after several EVMs malfunctioned in the past elections.
Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat said, “Some of the parties said going back to ballot is bad as it would bring back booth capturing.”
But there was also objections from regional parties to use of EVM, which they felt could be manipulated.
The HSPDP leaders recommend a ceiling on election expenditure by political parties. “We propose that political party can spend only 25 per cent of the expenditure allowed for each candidate. We also proposed the ceiling of political parties’ fund accumulation. Fund may be raised only up to the extent that party may be required to run its affairs because having surplus fund will lead to temptation to spend illegally during election,” said a statement by the party.
Our Reporter adds: Besides HSPDP, UDP and PDF members were also present in the meeting.
UDP leader Alan Dkhar said the party raised state funding of election, doing away with EVMs and introduction of a special procedure with regard to enrollment to curb the possibility of doubtful voters in the Northeast.
Both UDP and HSPDP wanted increase in number of women candidates in election. “The EC should reward political parties fielding more women,” they said, adding that the commission should play a greater role in holding free, fair and peaceful polls all over the country and special attention should be given to remote and inaccessible areas like the North East.
