EC doesn\'t have jurisdiction to regulate issues like freebies: Cong

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday said the Election Commission does not have the jurisdiction to regulate issues such as freebies, and urged the panel to focus on ensuring free and fair polls through proper implementation of Election Laws. "It is really something which is to be decided, be it pre-election or post-election, be it by way of electoral punishment or electoral acceptance and reward that the electorate decides the wisdom of such poll promises or campaign assurances and equally decides their breach and non-compliance," Congress general secretary communications Jairam Ramesh wrote to the Election Commission. The Congress in its response to the EC proposal has said that "the issue does not fall under the poll body's jurisdiction" and asked "how can the Election Commission decide on the definition of freebies". The Congress leader pointed out it is a "woolly formulation" that the commission has sought by way of the proposed amendment to limit campaign promises to only those that are "possible to be fulfilled". Even assuming that the EC is available to ensure "standardisation" of poll promises in the format proposed, how does it ensure that these promises are met, Ramesh asked, adding that can it disqualify the party or can it disqualify select candidates or can it go to court by way of a writ to demand enforcement.