PTI | 09:04 PM,Apr 13,2012

Minister M Veerappa Moily had kindled some hopes to EC when he
initiated a dialogue with the Commission and started regional
consultations on electoral reforms.
However, with the reforms still to see the light of the
day even now, Quraishi has told the Prime Minister that
the Commission is “deeply disappointed”.
The CEC also questioned the political will of successive
governments in bringing the electoral reforms early and
thought it apropriate to write to the PM for his intervention
in this matter.
The CEC also batted for the Election Commissioners, who do
not enjoy the constitutional immunity he does, and sought the
Prime Minister’s intervention in providing the same to them.
He said since the CEC can only be removed through an
impeachment in Parliament like all constitutional authorities,
the two ECs be also given the same status. He also suggested
that EC get its funds from the Consolidated Fund of India, as
in the case of other constitutional bodies.
Among some of the key electoral reforms listed by CEC in
his letter to the Prime Minister include de-criminalization of
politics and political parties reforms, besides stopping the
misuse of religion for electoral gain, amendment of law to
make `paid news’ an electoral offence, punishment for
electoral offences to be enhanced, stopping of government-
sponsored advertisements six months ahead of elections,
prohibition of campaign during the 48 hours in the run up to
polls, punishment for false affidavit by candidates and ban on
transfer of election officers on the eve of elections.
Besides, EC has also sought totalizer for counting of
votes so that candidate are not able to know the voting
patterns of pockets and areas.