-The Hindu The Law Commission has recommended that newspaper advertisements on the eve of elections be banned. In a report released on Thursday, the commission wanted Independent candidates to be barred from contesting elections, and paid news made an electoral offence leading to disqualification. Headed by Justice A.P. Shah, the commission submitted its 255th report, on the issue of electoral reforms, to the Union Law Ministry. Noting that the ban on broadcast...

-The Indian Express From barring independent candidates from contesting elections to making it mandatory for corporates to seek shareholders' approval at their annual general meetings before donating funds to political parties, the Law Commission of India is set to recommend sweeping electoral reforms in its 255th report which will be submitted to the government on Thursday. Sources in the commission told The Indian Express that the panel has also opposed compulsory voting....

-Hindustan Times The BJP had received as much money in donations as all other national political parties combined for the 2014 general elections that it won with a sweeping verdict, says a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The ADR report said the BJP collected Rs 560 crore as against Rs 350 crore by the Congress, around Rs 77 crore each by NCP and the BSP and Rs 65 crore...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The Election Commission is in the process of sending donation details of all political parties to the Central Board of Direct Taxes for a probe by the Income Tax authorities to ascertain whether entities making contributions were genuine. But what has rattled the poll watchdog is the huge expenditure made by some of the leading parties during the Lok Sabha elections in March-May last year, disproportionate...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Who funds political parties? Corporates do. According to an analysis by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), 90% of political funds have been contributed by corporates or business houses. Roughly about half the amount donated to political parties came from Delhi followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat. This is based on declaration of donations submitted by parties to the Election Commission. While BJP is yet to submit details...