Ec Suggests Debate On Presidential Polls

The Election Commission has brought a new item on to its reform agenda by suggesting a national debate on the presidential and vice-presidential polls, expected to be held in mid-year.

Election commissioner GVG Krishnamurthy yesterday advocated that the candidates for these two posts should not be affilated to any political party as their incumbents were above politics. The tradition of any party claiming to have its own man in Rashtrapati Bhawan must go, he said.

The candidates for these posts should have a towering personality, with a sound track record and be capable of taking the nation ahead into the 21st century. As these two offices symbolise the trust of the nation, their elections should be considered in-depth by every section of society, he said.

Though he made these suggestions at a formal press conference, Krishnamurthy was careful to say that this was his personal view, which he would place before the commission at an appropriate time. All acceptable propositions will be accepted, he said, when asked whether the Commission would consider his personal view.

As against the whip by political parties, he advocated conscience votes, as the candidates were non-partisan and did not use election symbols. The nation has to consider whether issuing a whip was correct and constitutionally acceptable.

This aspect has to be considered before the coming presidential polls, he said, pointing out that members constituting the electoral college represent their constituencies rather than their political parties. He quoted Suprteme Court verdicts to establish his contention.

He also argued for expenditure statements by candidates for these posts, on the pattern of parliamentary and assembly elections. It is time for democracy to consider that nobody is above the law.

The Constitution should be amended to provide that candidates for these two offices should take an oath while filing their nominations, as is done for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state legislative bodies elections, Krishnamurthy said.

Though he said the government had turned down earlier requests by candidates to appear on television to talk of their suitability, he held that it is necessary that the nation should know.

The election commisioner stressed that the candidates should get opportunities to debate on the national problems and prospects while marching into the 21st century, saying that election to the President is not a playing field of non-serious candidate. To eliminate non-serious candidates, the security deposit for these elections should be raised from Rs 2,500 to Rs 15,000, he suggested.

Many other suggestions of the commision, such as greater financial autonomy for the commission and increasing the ceiling for candidates expenditure, have not been supported by many political parties or the government. The commission has started compilation of the electoral college for the presidential elections, Krishnamurthy said. The commission could notify any date after May 24 for the election process to begin. It would take 37 days. The terms of President SD Sharma expires on July 24.

For the vice-presidents election, it could notify any date after June 22. That election is simpler, since only members of both houses of Parliament vote. Vice-president KR Narayanans term expires on August 20.

For the Presidents election, a total of 776 members of Parliament and 4,072 members of state legislatures comprise the electoral college, but the votes of all state legislators together have as much weightage as those of all MPs. Pondicherry and Delhi MLAs will participate in the polls for the first time.