The controversial issue of political freebies has reared its head once again, ahead of upcoming elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
The Election Commission of India wants to include a proforma in the Model Code of Conduct and make it mandatory for political parties to account for the promises that they make in their pre-poll manifestos.
The indiscriminate announcement of freebies has grave effects on the economy. The EC has thus proposed to direct political parties to inform voters about the financial impact of the promises they make in their manifestos. Political parties have no right to squander taxpayers’ money for political gains.
