New Delhi: Seeking a consensus on electoral reforms, government plans to convene an all-party meeting to discuss issues like decriminalisation of politics, right to reject and state funding of elections.
Also on the agenda of the meeting would be matters like audit of accounts of political parties, review of the anti-defection law, regulation of media in the context of paid news and de-registration of non-serious parties.
"The electoral reforms proposals are ready in a crisp form. They will be discussed at various levels including at an all party consultation hopefully soon after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh returns (from a foreign visit)," Law Minister Salman Khurshid said.
He said that the government will move the amendments related to electoral reforms after a consensus is reached on them.
The Law Ministry proposals on electoral reforms include barring candidates against whom charges have been framed in cases of heinous crimes besides limited state funding of elections.
The proposals include change in Representation of the People Act to provide for state funding for women and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes' candidates of recognised political parties.
To get this benefit, candidates should not have an annual income of more than Rs 5 lakh and movable or immovable property worth more than Rs 22 lakh.
The limit would also include the income and assets of the candidates' spouses, the sources said.
Another proposal makes it mandatory for candidates and their parties to submit their accounts for audit by an agency authorised only by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
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