(Writers – Anisha Dutta, Ritika Chopra)
After assuming the post of Chief Election Commissioner, Rajiv Kumar has written a letter to the Law Ministry to issue a notification, demanding linking of Aadhar card with Voter ID. Along with this, there have been demands like banning opinion polls and exit polls, issuing four cut-off dates for a candidate to contest from the same seat and eligible people to register as voters.
An official from the Election Commission, on the condition of anonymity, told our associate English newspaper ‘The Indian Express’ that the Election Commission has sent a total of 6 proposals to the Law Ministry. We have appealed to the government to issue a notification for linking Aadhar card with voter ID and also to issue four cut-off dates for eligible people to register as voters.
In December 2021, Rajya Sabha passed the Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 by voice vote. After this, Aadhar card can be easily linked with voter card. During that time all the MPs of the opposition went out of the house opposing this amendment. Regarding this bill, political parties had accused the government that the government had passed it in haste without any discussion.
The Election Commission has also demanded more cancellation of registration of political parties, along with it has demanded an amendment in Form 24A, so that instead of 20 thousand rupees, donations of more than 2 thousand rupees are made public by political parties. Go.
According to Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission has the right to register parties but it does not have the power to cancel their registration.
In 2016, the Election Commission, in its Handbook on Electoral Reforms, had mentioned that many ongoing electoral parties get registered but never contest elections, but only look to take advantage of income tax exemptions.