Politicians, electoral officials, and poll experts from abroad will hold first-of-its-kind discussions on the influence of black money and transparency of funds during elections at a conference beginning here tomorrow.
The Election Commission-sponsored conference will discuss about measures as to how to reduce the cost of electoral politics in the South Asian countries, the role money plays in biasing political debate including in India and influence of the wealthy few in the largest exercise of a democratic country-- the polls.
The EC has partnered with Stockholm-based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), an inter-governmental organisation working to strengthen democratic processes like elections, to conduct the deliberations.
India is a member of this organisation which has 27 other members like Germany, Switzerland and Australia.
"We have been holding such conferences in other parts of the world and the latest one in India is aimed at evolving a consensus on these subjects among various stakeholders.
"While our recommendations are non-binding to governments, the aim is to improve the quality of democracy and strengthen the policy against corruption," International IDEA Secretary- General Yves Leterme said.
Replying to reporters' questions on India-specific observations of the global body, he said while they do not have "concrete data" on the black funds or illegal inducements being pumped in the Indian electoral processes, but they are surely going to analyse these aspects as part of a future study.
Leterme, a former Prime Minister of Belgium, said they have observed that while in new democracies there are weak systems to regulate these corrupt and illegal practises, older and more mature democracies have found ways and deploy sophisticated measures to "circumvent" regulations.
"We will do some exercise to study the Indian context in this regard. There will be a draft declaration at the end of the conference here," he said.
EC Director General Sudeep Jain said the six national political parties have been invited for the two-day conference which will also be addressed by Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi and other commissioners.
IDEA has held three regional conferences in Paris, Brazil
and Mexico in the last over an year to firm up its findings on these subjects and this is the first time they have come to the South Asian region.
Participants from countries like Pakistan, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Bhutan will be attending the conference, Leterme said.
He said the conference will also discuss about the possibility of state funding of elections in these member countries and about the tools required to improve the electoral systems.
"We are hopeful of having some very productive discussions during the conference beginning tomorrow," he said.
