Political parties will have to select a panel of two or three probable candidates in each constituency, who are to be elected by the party's own local committee, for fielding one of them for general election as per new rules in the making, reports UNB.
The locally elected candidates' names have to be sent to party central committee, and before the general election, the parties would nominate one of the panel candidates to contest the polls.
These are in a set of new rules, laid down by the reconstituted Election Commission (EC) in its proposal for electoral reforms, aiming to stop 'nomination trade' and ensure democratic practice within the political parties.
"The main theme of our initiative is that the leaders of any political party, starting from its grassroots to top level, have to be elected… The matter of selecting probable candidates in each constituency will have to be decided by secret ballot," Election Commissioner M Sakhawat Hussain told the reporters at his office Sunday afternoon.
The new provisions will be interpolated into the Representation of People Order (RPO), and the part would be notified as gazette titled 'Political Party and Registration Rules 2007'.
The EC officials said, the updated politico-electoral law comprises nine articles and three sub-clauses containing comprehensive corrective measures, against the backdrop of a grave political crisis in the country over electoral issues.
In the wake of a plethora of allegations being leveled against the political parties, including undermining the democratic system through undemocratic practices and irregularities, the Caretaker Government has launched the reforms.
The new rules would help prevent the much-talked-about 'nomination trade' at general elections, Sakhawat said, indicating the reports that big parties sold their nominations for big amounts of money to fat cats.
He said, the law would facilitate two things. On the one hand, the people would get the opportunity to know better about the probable two or three aspirant candidates of a party for election, which would enhance people's participation. On the other hand, the aspirants would also work being more responsive.
The election commissioner said, they are working towards establishing a democratic government. "If the political party that will take over power doesn't have the right democratic practice within itself, then how the people will believe that they will work with a democratic mind?"
EC drafting reform rules for parties
FE Team | Published: June 18, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00
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