APPENDIX-XIV

(Vide Para 12.3)

GIST OF THE DECISIONS TAKEN AT THE MEETING OF POLITICAL PARTIES HELD ON 22^ND MAY, 1998 TO DISCUSS PROPOSALS ON ELECTORAL REFORMS

1. The existing extent of parliamentary and assembly constituencies to continue till fresh delimitation became due as per existing constitutional provisions.

2. The age for contesting elections to Lok Sabha and Legislative Assemblies be lowered to 21 years and for elections to Legislative Councils and Council of States, be lowered to 25 years.

3. The existing position for allowing a candidate to contest elections from two constituencies may continue and it need not be restricted to one, for the present.

4. Status quo be maintained in respected of section 8A of the Representation of People Act, 1951.

5. Status quo be maintained in respect of minimum number of votes required to be polled to save security deposits.

6. Constitution of a Committee under the Chairmanship of Shri Indrajit Gupta, MP to suggest concrete proposals for providing State funding to recognised political parties and to make recommendations with regard to other related proposals pertaining to maintenance of accounts by political parties and audit thereof, ban on donation by companies to political parties, inclusion of expenses of political parties in the election expenses of candidates for the purposes of ceiling on election expenses and empowering of Election Commission to fix ceiling on election expenses before every general election.

7. The Election Commission of India be requested to review and reformulate the Model Code of Conduct in consultation with political parties.

8. The Election Commission may be requested to review its order relating to reservation and allotment of symbols in consultation with political parties.

9. Voting should not be made compulsory.

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