Panaji, Jun 16 (TOI): Raising concerns over the huge election expenditure claim made by the state election commission and the imposition of the code of conduct, chief minister Manohar Parrikar questioned the lack of accountability on part of the SEC.

"I am very sorry to say this and I normally don't like to criticize a constitutional authority, but when constitutional authorities becomes absolute power, they become more corrupt than politicians. Politicians at least have to face the electorate every five years. I don't mind this, but this kind of accountability has to be there everywhere and with elections always happening, even the state election commission...," Parrikar said here on Thursday.

The chief minister's comments came after SEC officials submitted to him a bill of Rs 16.86 crore towards expenses incurred to conduct the state assembly elections in February. On Tuesday, Parrikar had recommended an audit of the 'seemingly exorbitant' reimbursement claim.

Referring to the delay in elections for certain panchayat wards, Parrikar said nobody was there to hold the SEC accountable for the delay.

"Accountability is not there at all. If a politician was behind it, the newspapers would have chased him and thrown him out. A politician is a very easy target. This has happened because of some erroneous procedures or judgments. I am not criticizing a particular authority. Accountability and responsibility and authority also comes with accountability, all of us must remember this," Parrikar told a gathering of entrepreneurs and government officials.

Parrikar also appeared frustrated with the code of conduct that has been in force due to the panchayat elections.

"We have to all deliberate on the issue of code of conduct. There must be some kind of social discussion on the use of it. Initially it was envisaged as no special advantage for the ruling party. Perfect, and that has to be there. But today, it has got degenerated into no work," he said.