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Goan parties reach agreement on electoral reforms

A state-level meeting to discuss the modalities of state funding for elections in Goa has favoured funding in kind, by way of free time slots on Doordarshan and such other facilities. Moreover, it said these facilities should be extended only to recognised national and state parties.

The meeting, called by Goa's chief electoral officer, was held at the state secretariat in Panjim yesterday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Wilfred de Souza. Law Minister Kashinath Jhalmi, Manohar Parrikar, MLA, and Chief Secretary S R Sharma also attended the meeting.

It was decided that the facilities should be extended on the basis of criteria such as the number of candidates and the percentage of votes secured in previous elections.

The meeting resolved to encourage donations by corporate bodies to political parties, but through the Election Commission. Such donations should be eligible for income-tax rebates, it said.

The meeting decided to subject the election accounts of parties to an audit. For this, the Election Commission has been asked to nominate auditors from the panel in the state.

Display of banners and flags, and writings slogans on walls in public places other than party offices was opposed in the meeting. It was also suggested that the campaign period should be fixed at two months.

UNI

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