Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 15
THE RULING NPF party will be deliberating on State funding of Elections at the second meeting of the party’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) on January 31, Tuesday at 10:00 am at the State banquet Hall, Kohima. The meeting has been convened by the NPF President Dr Shurhozelie.
The NPF is expected to formulate its views on specific issues such as the responsibility of the State during elections time in extending facilities like rent-free accommodation to each recognized political party, free telephone calls during polls, printing papers, and petrol and diesel in certain quantities to each candidate of recognized political parties.
It may be mentioned that the NPF is one among the 44 state and regional parties which have been invited to attend a meeting called by the Election Commission on February 15 at Delhi to discuss State funding of elections.
The Commission has already sent letters to these parties to represent their views by January 31 and the February 15 meeting would have detailed discussions.
The NPF meanwhile has insisted that the Election Commission of India (ECI) should first define ‘in black and white’ the concept of state funding of elections in India.
Insisting that the support of the NPF would depend on the decision and stand taken by the Election Commission of India, NPF President Dr Shurhozelie, speaking to The Morung Express, said that the scope and implications of the proposed state funding should be defined before its complete approval is formalized.
To the query if the NPF supported state funding, Dr Shurhozelie declined to comment on it while reiterating that the ‘decision’ would be taken only at the party’s upcoming Central Executive Committee (CEC) discussions.
Leader of Opposition I Imkong when contacted however gave the opinion that State funding of elections has got nothing to do with state governments. “NPF has got nothing to do with it. If the Election Commission approves of it, the NPF has (got no option) but to support it” I Imkong said adding that the Congress party was in support of this specific electoral reform.
It may be mentioned that the UPA government is in the process of evolving a political consensus on electoral reforms and it was recently that the Union Cabinet referred the matter to the Commission with the objective of evolving a consensus on certain aspects among the political parties.
