What's wrong if parties make promises, asks CPI-M

The CPI-M Monday came out against proposals to enact guidelines regarding election manifestoes and said there was nothing wrong if political parties make promises to voters.

"An election manifesto is a declaration of the ideology, aims, intentions, motives or views, policies, programmes and promises of a political party in elections," the CPI-M said in a statement.

"The CPI-M is opposed to any intervention by any external authority, body or agency in the content of the election manifesto."

The Election Commission has been concerned over the promises -- or freebies -- political parties make ahead of elections to woo voters, which at times plays havoc with fiscal discipline.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist said it was not possible to define the word 'freebies'.

"What is wrong if a party promises, if it comes to power, free education up to the secondary stage or free health care or distribution of land to the landless?

"All promises on any matter can be interpreted as 'freebies'."

The CPI-M said it was against any intervention by any authority, agency or body in the formulation of the ideology, aims, policies and programmes of political parties.