Cong seeks EC action in restricting money power for election

Bangalore, May 23(UNI) Claiming that money had played a big role in the current Assembly elections in Karnataka, the Congress today sought the Election Commission to take action in restricting the role of money in the electoral process.

Party spokesman K H Shrinivas told reporters here that severe restrictions on political parties imposed by the election commission during the campaign phase had led to money power playing a major role in the elections to seek mandate from the people.

While he appreciated the code of conduct that was followed strictly leading to seizure of huge cash he said "money has its own power and the people know with money what one can do in the world." If the role of money was not curbed, preventing candidates enticing the voters with cash, whatever reforms the Election Commission had enforced would prove to be in vain he said adding that the EC should talk to the political parties, public organisations and debate on the issue before bringing in fresh rules with a practical approach.

"The restections on election expenditure and publicity materials had its reflection on the circulation of the money freely and openly in garnering the votes from the people," he said.

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