New Delhi: Several leading parties led by Congress had come together and oppose the transparency norm of Election Commission. These parties had written to Election Commission and raise objection to its transparency guidelines.
Notably that parties have opposed disclosure of anonymous unaccounted receipts and demanded that the EC circular on the issue must be withdrawn. The total income of these parties, reluctant to abide by disclosure norms, has been close to Rs 1,000 crore in 2012-13.
Notify that BJP has not yet responded over the norms.
Notify that all these parties, including the BJP, have collected more than Rs 5,800 crore in the last ten years but they refuse to reveal the names of all their contributors. Funds from unnamed donors constitute up to 90% of total income of many of these parties (100% in case of the BSP).
The power to ask parties to record each donation less than Rs. 20,000, audit the same and report it to the poll watchdog of Election Commission had been challenged by Congress.
Veteran Congress leader and treasurer of party Motilal Vora has written to EC saying it must refer this matter to the law ministry as the commission is not competent to ask for names of each donor and make it mandatory for parties to get their entire account audited and submitted to the commission.
A directive of EC had been issued on August 29 which asked parties to follow certain transparency guidelines. They require parties to maintain names of individuals, companies and entities making donations, even if less than Rs 20,000, except petty sums donated by the public during rallies, and deposit the amount collected into the party’s authorized bank accounts within a week of receipt.
Bureau Report
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