The Election Commission today made a strong pitch for financial autonomy on the lines granted to constitutional bodies like the Supreme Court and the CAG. It said that the dependence on the government could lead to conflict of interest.

Speaking at a function in New Delhi, Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi said they want the budget of the Election Commission to be charged through the Consolidated Fund of India and not voted through Parliament. Quraishi's remarks came in the backdrop of verbal skirmishes between ministers and the Commission in the run up to the UP assembly elections. Apart from the funding, the CEC also sought an independent secretariat for the Commission.