Finance Ministry’s latest notification on Electoral Bonds violates the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and disturbs the level-playing ground for political parties
To
Shri Rajiv Kumar
Chief Election Commissioner
Election Commission of India (ECI)
Shri A C Pandey
Election Commissioner
Election Commission of India (ECI)
Shri Arun Goel
Election Commissioner
Election Commission of India (ECI)Dear S/Shri Rajiv Kumar/ Pandey/ Goel,
I refer to the notification issued by the Union Finance Ministry a couple of days ago opening a window for receipt of anonymous donations by political parties through Electoral Bonds (EBs) between 6-11-2023 and 20-11-2023 (
https://dea.gov.in/sites/default/files/Press%20Communique%20Electoral%20Bond%20-%20Nov-2023.pdf)
Considering that the timing of the above-cited notification is decided exclusively and unilaterally by the political party in power at the Centre, without consultation with other political parties, especially when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for the ensuing State Assembly elections is in force and when the legality of the scheme itself is under scrutiny by the apex court and considering that the past pattern of receipt of donations through EBs displayed a strong bias in favour of the BJP, the latest notification raises serious concerns about its probity, its prudence, the underlying intentions and its likely adverse implications for the integrity of the ensuing Assembly elections.
I earnestly believe that this is far too serious a matter for the Commission to ignore and refrain from acting against it.
It is possible that the donations received by political parties engaged in the ensuing State assembly elections, whether they are national parties or regional parties, use the EB route to receive funds from sources that infringe the requirements of Section 29C of the Representation of People Act of 1951 or to receive kickbacks by way of quid pro quos from private companies to whom they have granted undue concessions. If that were to be the case, the donations thus received would be illegal and they may also have to be considered as attracting the penalties provided for corrupt practices under the relevant election laws and the other laws that deal with corruption. In my view, neither the donors nor the recipient political parties can be permitted to claim anonymity, if such donations are prima facie illegal and tainted. Under Article 19 of the Constitution, from the public interest point of view, the citizen-voter is entitled to know the details of all such donations and whether they are tainted in any way.
In view of the above, I request the Commission to examine the latest EB notification from the following points of view:
- Since the notification is issued when the MCC is in force and its validity overlaps the electioneering timeframe, since its timing has been decided exclusively by one political party in power, possibly to the detriment of the interests of the other political parties and since the past track record clearly showed that it was the BJP that received the lion’s share of the donations (https://adrindia.org/sites/default/files/ElectoralBondsNote_March_July2021_updated.pdf), does the timing of the notification militate against the MCC and does it do injustice to the other political parties involved in State elections?
- Do the sources of funds received through the latest EBs attract the prohibitive provisions of the election laws and the other Central laws? Should not the Commission satisfy itself of the legality of the donations?
- Are the funds received through the EBs by those political parties which are in power in the nature of quid pro quos, a euphemism for brazen kickbacks, for concessions granted to the donors by way of industrial subsidies (irregular subsidies to private companies through concessional land, electricity, water, taxes, irregular Production Linked Incentives etc.)?
- Are they in the nature of kickbacks for allocation of highly valuable mineral blocks in violation of Central and State laws and in violation of competitive norms?
- Are they in the nature of quid pro quos by way of the political executive diluting the laws relating to forest conservation, regulation of development of minerals etc. and relaxing the rules and procedures that grant undue favours to corporate entities?
- Are they in the nature of donations given under duress by some private companies and individuals against whom Central and State investigation agencies have either launched or threatened to launch investigations?
- What are the sources of the donations, to what extent they are put to use in those States where Assembly elections are scheduled to be held and in what manner? While the Commission is no doubt exercising vigilance on funds put to misuse by political parties at the field level, exercising vigilance at the source assumes greater importance. It is desirable that every rupee received by political parties through EBs is fully subject to close oversight from its source to its end-use
As an institution set up under Article 324 of the Constitution, the Election Commission has not only an obligation to conduct elections in a free and fair manner but also has the necessary authority to ensure in every manner that no action by the executive comes in the way of fulfilling that obligation. The people of India and the political parties in the country repose trust in the Commission as the sole custodian of free and fair elections and I sincerely hope that the Commission will rise to the occasion to justify that trust. Failing to do so would undoubtedly erode the credibility of elections.
May I request the Commission to make a public disclosure of this letter and the action taken on it, at the Commission’s website, for others to see? May I also request the Commission to act in a timely manner to make sure that the latest EB notification does not affect the integrity of the ensuing elections?
Regards,
Yours sincerely,
E A S Sarma
Former Secretary to the Government of India
Visakhapatnam
