Most parties claim ‘right’ to announce poll freebies
Claiming it to be their prerogative, most major political parties except Mayawati’s BSP on Monday opposed any restriction on their announcing freebies in poll manifestos.
The parties expressed their views at a meeting convened by the Election Commission to enlist opinion on the issue of freebies offered by them during campaigns. The EC is now drawing up guidelines for political parties on framing of manifestos on the direction of the Supreme Court.
Representatives of five national and 23 regional parties attended the meeting.
Except for the BSP, all major national parties were unanimous in their view that there should not be any restriction on them in formulating their manifestos, and therefore this should not be regulated.
The BSP, however, said there should be a ban on parties announcing freebies ahead of elections as they disturb a level-playing field, as voters could be lured by promises of allurements, which may not be implemented later.
Among the regional parties, only two — Nagaland People’s Front and Mizo National Front — supported a ban on freebies and framing guidelines on this. All the others opposed the move.
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