Supreme Court ruling renders the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional - Statements by CPI(M) & CPI

[Text of Statements by Left Parties]

o o

Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Central Committee

Press Statement February 15, 2024

A Historic Verdict

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) hails the historic judgment of the Supreme Court, which has struck down the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional. By this verdict, this unscrupulous scheme designed to finance the ruling party by anonymous corporate donors has been completely scrapped.

The CPI(M) had declared at the outset itself that the Party will not accept electoral bonds as this scheme legalizes corruption. The CPI(M) had challenged the electoral bonds scheme in the Supreme Court along with other petitioners. It is gratifying that the main contentions set out in the petition against the scheme have been upheld.

It is essential now that reforms for political and electoral funding are introduced to ensure transparency, clean funding and a level playing field.

o o

Communist Party of India

Date: 15.02.2024

Press Release

CPI Welcomes Supreme Court Judgment Declaring Electoral Bonds as Unconstitutional

The National Secretariat of the Communist Party of India issued the following statement today (on February 15, 2024) about Supreme Court verdict on Electoral Bond:

The National Secretariat of the Communist Party of India welcomes the verdict of Supreme Court of India declaring electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional. The Party has consistently opposed corporate influence on elections and electoral bonds.

It is unfortunate that Supreme Court has taken seven long years to decide the matter and the party hopes that such delays will be avoided in future.

We expect that the judgment will motivate a wider debate on comprehensive electoral reforms and state funding of elections as recommended by the Indrajit Gupta Committee. In the last ten years, BJP has made several attempts to deny level playing field to all political parties and to affect the sanctity of the electoral process. The CPI is steadfast in its commitment to free and fair elections and an impartial Election Commission.

The CPI demands that details of funding under the electoral bonds scheme be made public. People of the country must know who benefitted from legalized corruption in the form of electoral bonds.

Sd/-

Roykutty
Office Secretary

Communist Party of India
Central Office
New Delhi