Monday, February 20 2006 14:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government favours partial state funding of elections and is awaiting the response of the Election Commission to proposals in this regard, Rajya Sabha was informed today (Feb 20,2006).

Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, Law and Justice Minister H R Bhardwaj said the Government was keen on 'partially providing funding' for elections in kind.

The Minister said after receiving the response of the EC, the matter would be taken up at the Cabinet.

In reply to a query on why helicopter or jet expenses for electioneering were excluded from the ceiling on election cost, Bhardwaj told Nilotpal Basu (CPI-M) that this was the recommendation of the Indrajit Committee report.

Bharadwaj said it was essential for some persons, including the Prime Minister, to use helicopters or jets as a mode of transport for electioneering for security reasons.

The Minister said the current ceiling of Rs 25 lakh for a person contesting the Lok Sabha poll would include funding by both the candidate and the concerned political party.

He said the Centre has considered various recommendations and proposals relating to state funding of elections.

With a view to building consensus among recognized political parties, it has been decided to request the Election Commission to consider certain recommendations, he said.

The Government is awaiting the response and minutes of the meeting held by EC in this regard, he said.