Shillong, Jan 13: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday said announcing schemes or promising benefits to electorates before the elections is not in violation of the existing laws. This bears importance in view of the ruling NPP-led government’s FOCUS schemes under which farmers are getting financial assistance and opposition All India Trinamool Congress’ (AITC) We Card scheme – which promises financial assistance to women.

When Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar was asked to give his view on these schemes, especially AITC’s We Card scheme which was launched by the party last month and promises Rs. 1000 to a woman in each household, he said these promises were not in violation of the existing laws as it is a democratic practice to make promises to the voters and it is also the voters’ right to know what is being promised.

“There are two things on this: one is political parties have now, as per the existing law and as per democratic practices, tried to make promises to the voters – that is their right; it is also voters right to know what is being promised and also to an extent is it feasible or will it be implementable or not,” he said.

He, however, remarked that presently a debate is going on in the country about such promises of enticement. However, the ECI cannot directly curb such promises and practises, especially when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is yet to be declared. “(We) will look at all this whatever is permissible within existing law and instruction of the commission,” Kumar said.

With regards to the alleged failure of the NPP to file its election expenditures, Kumar said the party has already filed their election expenditures. He, however, admitted the delay in filing such election expenses, and added that various political parties in the country delay in filing their expenses.

Regarding the complaint filed against a cabinet minister for allegedly distributing money to the people of Nongkrem, the CEC however said the case is not in his notice and that the CEO will be asked to respond on the matter. “Whenever any complaint comes to us, we ask again all the DEOs to properly register all the complaints and respond,” he said.