Candidates must open separate bank accounts for election

[Barun Mitra, New Delhi]

All candidates must open poll accounts, EC tells parties

Times of India
March 10, 2011
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/All-candidates-must-open-poll-accounts-EC-tells-parties/articleshow/7667461.cms

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission on Wednesday met political parties
ahead of elections in four states and Pondicherry to explain to them
new norms set in place like the mandatory separate bank account to be
opened by each candidate for election expenses and revised affidavits
to be filed by them.

The separate bank account norm, aimed at curbing the use of black
money, is a radical new step but observers feel there are still too
many loopholes for it to be effective.

EC also plans to get the district administration to distribute voter
slips and put in place measures to check the practice of paid news,
parties were told.

On the bank account requirement, many parties said it would increase
the workload of candidates without any guarantee that infusion of
black money will be checked. The bulk of expenditure by candidates is
done through payments in cash and kind, they said.

But on record, EC and political parties seemed to be on the same page
during the interaction. Political parties called for stronger measures
against paid news and wanted the EC to take up the issue with media
houses for formulating a code of conduct for the media. They demanded
permission to appoint an 'expenditure agent' for every contesting
candidate for better accounting.

The bank account has to be opened at least a day before the candidate
files his nomination. The account has to be in the name of the
candidate or in the joint name with his election agent. It cannot be
in the name of a family member who is not the election agent. Banks
have been told to open dedicated counters to facilitate prompt
services to the candidates.

The decision to involve district administration for distributing voter
slips has been taken in the wake of widespread reports that the
current system of political parties doing the job is not very
successful.

Parties were also briefed on measures like their participation in
preparation of EVMs, provision of 24x7 control room with toll free
number (1965) in all election-bound states from Thursday, institution
of district and state level committees to check paid news,
facilitation of election partners to carry alliance party flags,
introduction of greater transparency in counting of votes etc.

CEC S Y Quraishi said a detailed mechanism has been put in place for
monitoring expenditure, cash flow, distribution of liquor, food,
gifts, tokens etc during the elections. He said EC wanted a clear
understanding by political parties of the new provisions and rules so
that there is no violation.