Disagreeing with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S Y Quraishis suggestion that a person against whom charges have been framed for an offence,which is punishable with imprisonment for five or more years,should not be allowed to contest elections,Chief Minister Mayawati said that such a provision could be misused,and argued for disqualification from contesting election only after conviction by court. She favoured a law to stop criminalisation of politics and wanted the law to have no scope for misuse. Mayawati was speaking at the Regional Consultation for Electoral Reforms,organised jointly by the Election Commission of India and Union Law Ministry at the Dr B R Ambedkar Auditorium here. Quraishi and Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily were also present. This was the first time since Mayawati became the CM in 2007 that she spoke from a non-BSP platform. The CEC expressed concern over criminalisation of politics and appreciated Mayawati for her reported decision to deny ticket to criminals in elections. Terming the ECIs decision to seek opinions for electoral reforms as a commendable step,the CM said there is need to ban exit and opinion polls which tended to influence the electorate. The logic behind such poll is that it is freedom of expression. But this is freedom of misinformation, Mayawati said. She underlined the need for reviewing the anti-defection law. If any MP or MLA joins another party,he should contest the election again, she said. Mayawati said the national president of a political party should be empowered to recommend to the EC cancellation of membership of MPs and MLAs who change party. After disqualification,the EC should immediately hold elections in their constituencies. Favouring the idea of the state funding elections,she said this would help curb criminalisation of politics. However,the CEC described the idea of state funding dangerous. The CEC highlighted various issues related to electoral reforms. He said there should be a ban on transfer of employees six months before and after elections in any state. He sought suggestions to develop a protection system for officers who face victimisation after elections despite their good work. He also underlined the need for empowering the ECI to deregister political parties.
