NEW DELHI: Keen to curb illegal money power in electoral politics, the Election Commission (EC) has sought powers to countermand polls on grounds of large scale bribery of voters and asked the Centre to make such graft a specific cognizable offence during polls. "We pointed out to the MHA that consultations on the proposed CrPC amendment had been held and that 50% of the states had consented to it," an EC official said.Zaidi told the National Interactive Conference on Electoral Laws here that the EC had requested the law ministry to revisit its proposal to amend Section 58A of the RPA. The CEC also referred to EC's 47 proposals on electoral reforms. Stating that the recommendations were being scrutinized by a task force in the law ministry, he said the outcome is eagerly awaited. They pertain to decriminalization of politics, transparent funding of parties and criminalization of paid news etc.

Source: Times of India December 03, 2016 22:54 UTC