EC to Centre: Take approval for flagship schemes

In a bid to show its authority, the Election Commission (EC) has asked the central government to take its approval on carrying out additional work under flagship schemes like the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA).

The Cabinet Secretariat had sought the Commission’s clarification as the Model Code of Conduct, which has the endorsement of all political parties and is currently in force, does not permit any party to use its office to win votes.

Besides the rural job guarantee scheme NREGA, other Central schemes are Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme, National Social Assistance Programme and Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, which includes purchase of buses for urban transport system.

This apart, the poll panel has cited programmes like the Accelerated Power and Development Reform Programme, Indira Awas Yojana, Swaranjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana, Sampoorna Gramin Rojgar Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme and Affordable Housing that fall under the purview of schemes that could sway voters in favour of a particular political group just before the elections.

The government had sought the clarification because many of these programmes that were augmented in the recent Interim Budget 2009-10 were allocated large outlays for additional work.

N Gopalaswami will bow out as the Chief Election Commissioner, to be followed by Naveen Chawla amid a controversy over Chawla’s alleged political leanings, but the EC is presenting a united front by seeking to shore up its image as being non-partisan.

Noting that queries have come from various states on presentation of the 2009-10 Budget, the poll panel also said though it would not like to lay down a precept or prescribe a course of action, it would advise that in the case of states that are going for assembly polls, a vote on account should be taken.