Wednesday, February 15 2006 11:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: A meeting of leaders of various national and state-level political parties began here today (Feb 15,2006) to discuss the proposal for state funding of elections.

Prominent among the political leaders attending the meeting are V K Malhotra (BJP), Abhishek Singhvi and Veerappa Moiley, both Congress, Nilotpal Basu (CPI-M), D Raja (CPI) and Mamata Banerjee (Trinamool Congress).

In all, 25 state parties and six national parties are attending the meeting convened by the Election Commission to elicit the views of the political leaders on the proposal for state funding of elections in kind.

The Commission's move comes in the wake of Centre's decision to seek its advice in an effort to curb money power in elections.

Acting on the Union Cabinet decision in December last, the Government had requested the EC to recommend, in consultation with the recognised political parties, the quantities of certain specific items to be provided to political parties or candidates.

For recognised political parties, government has elicited the Commission's views on suitable rent-free accommodation for its headquarters, one rent-free telephone with STD facility and time to be allocated to them on private TV channels.

So far as candidates of recognised parties are concerned, the EC's opinion has been sought on quantity of petrol/diesel, paper for printing and minimum arrangements for the candidates' camps at each polling states on the polling day, among others.