Want state-funding of elections: Mamata

Kolkata, May 31 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded state-funding of elections, as she pitched for strengthening the democratic process through electoral reforms.

"I would request… for public issue… state funding of elections. We want electoral reforms," Banerjee said in the assembly after Biman Bandopadhyay was elected as the speaker once again.

"Let us start from administrative reforms, the electoral reforms, economic reforms… and I believe in electoral reforms so that the democratic process is strengthened and remains clean," she stressed.

Exhorting the legislators to engage in constructive discussions in the assembly, the Trinamool Congress supremo requested all to avoid slander to prevent relationships from souring.

She highlighted state funding of elections.

"We have told the Election Commission many times about state funding of elections. There is no need to act and shout ‘black money, black money’," she added.