The New Nation - Internet Edition

THE Election Commission (EC) held dialogue with the 15 political parties. The Awami League, one of the two main political parties of the country, was conspicuous in making a demand that the government should provide at least 15 lakh Taka to each of its nominees contesting a parliamentary seat and Taka 50 crore towards a central party fund for the election. In other words they are demanding at least 100 crore Taka-- considering that there are three hundred parliamentary seats-- for the purpose of the election from the public exchequer. The party's demand is a reaction to allegations that elections in Bangladesh have become money games with profligate spending of black money.

Thus, the parties should contest elections with white money so that the political process may also be clean. There is nothing wrong in such observations and the Awami League's claim of money from the national exchequer was made to counter the blame for contesting elections with black money. The question is, why the people should pay such a vast sum of money to them for contesting elections? The EC proposed that a registered political party should contest election with a maximum of 3 crore Taka. The EC has also proposed to sponsor election campaign meetings to bring down electioneering costs.

The major parties may negotiate a higher ceiling of expenditure but the election should in no case again become a money game. Elections should be essentially fought by the parties persuading them to be on their side attracted by their manifestos and giving proofs of their own credibility. Elections must not degenerate into vote buying and selling contests. For this and some more reasons, all should have a stake in limiting election expenditures.