NEW DELHI, May 1: With the persistent spectre of fresh political crisis being sparked off, the Election Commission is getting down to the business of putting its electoral rules in order.

In a meeting slated for May 7, with the recognised national and state political parties, the most urgent of poll reforms to be addressed is that of raising ceiling on poll expenses to make it more realistic with present day expenditure.

The rationale behind setting a ceiling was noble enough to prevent money power from vitiating the ``purity of the electoral process'' and to ensure a level playing field for all candidates whatever be their background.

However, the ceiling was so low that flouting norms became almost inevitable. The Commission is seeking to raise this figure from the current Rs 5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh respectively for Parliamentary and Assembly constituencies to Rs 15 and Rs 6 lakh respectively, with modifications in the case of smaller constituencies.

Additionally, the commission wants the power to periodically revise poll expenses ceiling before each general election so that this limit is reasonable and realistic.

But along with a hike in the ceiling, the Commission would require that all political parties publish their accounts annually to be scrutinised by an independent audit.

The Commission also expects a full-fledged debate on criminalisation of politics. Curbing the growing nexus between political parties and criminal elements would remain an impossible task unless the political parties themselves foresee the dangers of the electoral process being hijacked by anti-social elements.

Under existing laws anyone convicted of a criminal offence stands disqualified from contesting elections during the period of imprisonment and for a further 6 year period after release from jail. However, loopholes in the law allow even convicted persons from winning elections with impunity. While the attempt to tighten and update electoral regulations are long overdue, Nirvachan Sadan insiders remain far from optimistic about the outcome. ``Some of these reforms were put forward nearly two decades ago, but nothing has come out of it,'' said one official.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.