SHILLONG, JAN 31: The media willy-nilly appears to have become party to the use of money power during elections with candidates using as much as 40 per cent of their illegal electioneering expenses in paid news.
This startling fact is the finding of no less an authority than the Election Commission of India (ECI). “At least 40 per cent of a candidate’s illegal expenditure is used for paid news,” revealed P. K. Dash, director general (election expenditure), ECI here on Thursday. He sought the active help of the media to put an end to the use of money power during elections.
Dash is in Shillong to hold a meeting with political parties participating in the February 23 Assembly polls on election expenditures. “The use of money during elections has vitiated the atmosphere. It has become a malady during electioneering process,” he said.
The ECI official issued guidelines to the media regarding paid news and urged them to help curb the menace of money power. “We need the support of the media, political parties, candidates and officials involved in the electioneering process to put an end to this,” he said.
Dash said paid news involves “ethical and financial” corruption. “For the financial angle, the commission can charge the candidate, but for the ethical angle, we are finding ways and means to find out a remedy,” he said, while admitting that the ECI alone cannot check the problem of paid news and urged the media to act as a watchdog and report to the commission as and when they come across instances of paid news.
The other advice Dash had for the media was for them to self-regulate so that instead of accepting paid news, they could seek electioneering advertisement from the candidates.
“People tend to take them (advertisements) with a pinch of salt,” he said. Besides, advertisement expenditure, he added, will be reflected in the candidate’s accounts.
The ECI, of course, has raised the cap for election expenditure per Assembly candidate to Rs 8 lakh.
Ngos to fight polls excesses
Two Jaintia hills based ngos-Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) and Jaintia Youth Federation (JYF)- decided to extend their support and work in tandem with the district administrations of East and West Jaintia hills to ensure free and fair polls in the two districts.
The ngos also decided to direct all its members in different units in East and West Jaintia hills districts to keep a close watch on movement of cash as part its effort to fight use of money power and also muscle power during the elections.
The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the two organization held on Thursday.
“We have decided to work together with the two district authorities to ensure free and fair conduct of polls in the regions,” JSU president RN Parien and JYF president P Majaw said.
The two leaders said that they don’t want to see the region reeling under any sort of incidents like law and order problem and bribery during the electioneering process in the regions.- By Our Reporter
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