Lok Satta Party president N Jayaprakash Narayan on Saturday termed the Election Commission (ECI) notice served on BJP MP Gopinath Munde over his poll spending as ‘perfunctory, bureaucratic and ridiculous.’
Speaking to newsmen here on Saturday, he said the ECI should treat Munde’s or any other such individual case as an opportunity to generate a public debate on electoral reforms.
In a letter to chief election commissioner VS Sampath, Jayaprakash Narayan pointed out that a majority of candidates across the country were spending huge amounts that far exceed the prescribed limit on electioneering.
He said that while the ECI has no powers to reform the electoral system, it certainly can catalyse a serious and fruitful debate among political parties, government, media and civil society. The Election Commission recently issued a show cause notice to Munde over his remark that he had spent Rs 8 crore towards campaigning for the 2009 Lok Sabha election he had contested from Beed constituency in Maharashtra.
Jayaprakash Narayan said that the Lok Satta would fight government’s attempts to treat cooperative societies as private estates of the ruling party.
State party president Katari Srinivasa Rao said that the Lok Satta would field candidates in 200 to 300 villages in panchayat elections. State party general secretary Ravi Maruth and vice-president DVVS Varma were also present.