Qurashi seeks greater debate on funding of bypolls

Panaji, May 14 (UNI) Central Election Commissioner Dr S Y Qurashi today said the commission was ''keen to introduce reforms'' in the area of funding of frequent bypolls.

Speaking to newspersons, he said the commission was in favour of a ''national debate'' on the funding of frequent bypolls caused by repeated resignations by MLAs and MPs, resulting in huge burden on the public exchequer for no reason.

Only recently the South Goa Congress NP Churchill Alemao had resigned.

Mr Qurashi said the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami had said in an interview recently, that he was in favour of reforms on this issue after conducting a public debate.

He said the CEC had not yet discussed about holding of byelection to South Goa Lok Sabha constituency, vacated by Churchill. He had become the President of local outfit 'Save Goa Front', which will field 35 candidates for the June 2 elections to the Goa Legilative Assembly.

Mr Churchill will himself contest from Navelim against Industries minister Luizinho Faleiro.

UNI