New Delhi: In a major move to curb cross-voting and use of money power in Rajya Sabha polls, the Union Cabinet on March 18 night decided to amend the electoral Law to provide for open voting instead of secret ballot for the Upper House.

It also decided to allow a person from anywhere in the country to contest Upper House elections, doing away with the present clause that a candidate has to be a resident of a particular state to seek elections.

A new Bill, incorporating these provisions by amending the Representation of People Act, will be introduced in the second half of the Budget session of Parliament resuming on April 7, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.

"The Bill will substitute open ballot system in place of existing secret ballot system for elections to the Rajya Sabha," she said, adding there had been unanimity among political parties on the issue of curbing money power in polls to the Upper House.

This amendment would also help check cross-voting by MLAs, an issue that has been agitating the political parties, Swaraj said.

"The Bill will do away with the requirement of residence of a particular state to contest elections to the Rajya Sabha," she said.

PTI