Kolkata, July 25: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over electoral reforms and funding. Banerjee asked the Prime Minister to hold an all-party meet to discuss public funding for elections in India. The West Bengal CM expressed concerns over the recent report published by the Centre for Media Studies (CMS). Mamata Banerjee Says Those Living in West Bengal Will Have to Learn to Speak in Bengali.

According to the report, the recently concluded general elections was the most expensive. In the letter, Banerjee said, “I would like to draw attention to a burning issue of national importance which we had flagged in our Manifesto in 2014 and 2019.” She also highlighted that going with the current trends, the election expenditure in 2024 Lok Sabha elections might cross Rs one lakh crore. What Are Electoral Reforms? Know History of Polls in India Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2019.

Mamata Banerjee's Letter:

The West Bengal CM also said that there was an "urgent need of electoral reforms which includes government funding of elections" for a free, fair and transparent election in the country.

Banerjee on July 21, demanded the return of ballot papers in place of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). She had said, “Do not forget that the EVMs were earlier used in England, France, Germany and America. But they have now stopped using them…. So why cannot we bring the ballot papers back?” She had also alleged that political parties use black money during polls.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 25, 2019 06:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).