The Commission has said that the government should pay for the entire poll expense of the netas, with political parties and their candidates disallowed to spend an extra rupee.

However, it said, if the government still decided to go ahead with its NCMP promise of partial state funding, small doles such as rent-free office accommodation, free telephone calls and petrol or diesel could be handed out (See box).

Using these recommendations, the Law Ministry has left it to the Cabinet to either approve the Commission’s list or take the state governments’ opinion.

The Ministry’s own view is that accepting the “proposed measures would ensure lessening of burden of the burgeoning election expenses over the recognized political parties and their candidates and will be helpful in curbing the menace of money power in elections to some extent.”

The Cabinet last December had asked EC to consult political parties and outline the support that could be extended to parties and their candidates to lessen their financial burden.

After a meeting with leaders of six national and 28 state parties in February, the Commission found out although there was complete unanimity on the need for curbing money power in elections, there was no unanimous opinion on state funding.

Its own view was that such half-hearted measures would not curb the use of money power in elections. “The proposals, if implemented in the present form, will only add to the resources available to the candidates of recognized parties at the cost of the state exchequer,” it wrote to the Ministry of Law & Justice.

“If any positive result is aimed to be achieved through state funding, the funding should be total without leaving any loophole for additional spending by candidates or parties,” it commented.

It also suggested that there should be radical changes in the provisions regarding receipt of funds by political parties and the manner in which such funds are spent by them to provide for complete transparency.

The Communist Party of India and the CPI (Marxist), which provide crucial outside support to the UPA, echoed similar views. While the CPI wanted a ceiling on expenditure by political parties, the CPM suggested strict monitoring of extravagant spending.

“State funding should only be for the purpose of funding elections and not for funding political parties. It would be improper to provide accommodation and telephone for the party office at state cost,” said the CPI.

The CPM said: “Partial funding cannot curb money power in election. This will only amount to subsidising those who are already spending huge money in elections.”

Half-measures the Govt could do

If Govt doesn’t decide to pay all expenses, it could begin with, the EC says:

For political parties

• Rent-free accommodation at national hqs and state parties at registered address

• 3,000 free phone calls for a national party and 1,000 for state parties each month

• Internet connection

• Adequate time on private cable TV and electronic media

For candidates during polls

• 300 litres of petrol or 450 litres of diesel for each Assembly segment

• Paper for printing voter slips

• Maximum of 10 loudpeakers for each LS segment

• Mobile pre-paid card worth Rs 7,500 for LS constituency

• Two chairs, a table for candidate at each polling station