When providing financial assistance to candidates, political parties must adhere to prescribed expenditure limits and ensure payments are made through accountable financial instruments. Furthermore, political parties are required to maintain and submit annually audited accounts by qualified Chartered Accountants to the ECI. Despite the ECI’s efforts to enforce expenditure limits and ensure transparency, political parties often engage in under-the-table giveaways, including gifts, cash, and gold, to influence voters. It highlighted the necessity of establishing an appropriate regulatory framework for the regulation of political parties before considering state funding. This transparent allocation process would mitigate the influence of private donors and promote a level playing field for all political parties and candidates.

Source: The Hindu June 10, 2024 11:48 UTC