Mamata calls for poll reforms

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday called for immediate steps for electoral reforms to ensure transparency and accountability. “Electoral reforms are urgently needed to maintain transparency and accountability in our democracy and the election process,” said the Trinamool Congress chief.

Party’s national spokesperson Derek O’ Brien said the party would agitate to press for electoral reforms in the coming Budget Session in Parliament. TMC, has been raising the issue of electoral reforms ever since Mamata Banerjee wrote a book on the subject 20 years ago. “We will agitate both inside and outside Parliament,” he said, adding, “One political party is using money like a hosepipe to fund its campaign. It’s dangerous. We want wholesome democracy and not hosepipe democracy.” TMC, he said, has been raising the issue of electoral reforms ever since Mamata Banerjee wrote a book on the subject 20 years ago. Derek O’ Brien said the Centre is not serious in bringing back black money. “We want a time bound plan and threadbare discussion on black money linked to poll funding,” he said.