Will oppose bid to curb poll panel powers

The public will never allow this since MCC has emerged as a unique instrument of maintaining sanctity of elections, he told The Indian Express.

Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi on Monday described the UPA governments move to give statutory backing to the election model code of conduct (MCC) as a highly misconceived move aimed at curbing the powers of the Election Commission.

If what you have told me is correct,it is a highly misconceived move aimed at curbing the powers of the Election Commission. The MCC has stood the test for the last over 20 years and everybody is all praise for the manner in which elections are conducted in the country. The attempt to turn the MCC into a statutory power seems to be an attempt at curbing the powers of the EC. Once courts get the power to adjudicate whether a politician has committed breach of the MCC,matter will go on for years while the culprit will enjoy the fruits of power. The public will never allow this since MCC has emerged as a unique instrument of maintaining sanctity of elections, he told The Indian Express.

Even disguised as a move to give teeth to the MCC,this move would be viewed as an attempt to make the EC less powerful. It is designed,in fact,to take away whatever teeth the EC has. The EC is a healthy feature of our democracy,something that many countries are trying to emulate. But,here,sadly,we are trying to destroy it, he said.

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Asked if he agreed with the perception that the Congress was trying to target the EC for its own reasons,the CEC replied in the negative. Certainly not. We are not against anybody or any party and I believe no party is against the institution of the EC.

To a question on whether the MCC,which doesnt provide for any penal action against a candidate,should have the weight of the law behind it so as to provide for stricter action against guilty politicians and parties,Quraishi said,The best thing about the MCC is that it is seen as a moral code of conduct rather than a model code of conduct. All parties and leaders have respected it. Even the Supreme Court has said that it must be implemented very vigorously and that the EC has the last word on this. That is why,I fail to understand the logic behind the move to grant it statutory powers.

Asked if the EC would oppose the move if its views are sought on the subject,Quraishi said,Absolutely. We will oppose it.

To another question about the view that development work come to a standstill during elections,the CEC said it was only a negative propaganda. It is all propaganda. We have also heard it several times and reject it. All that we disallow during election time is announcement of new schemes aimed at luring voters. Nothing,and I repeat,nothing is stopped.