New Delhi, dated 6
In order to make the elections held in the country transparent, the Election Commission has set a limit of campaign-related cash expenditure for candidates contesting at Rs. 10,000 reduced to Rs. 2,000 has been proposed, sources said. In a proposal submitted to the government, the Election Commission recommended that the provisions relating to the conduct of election rules be amended.
The Election Panel, in compliance with the Election Rules, may require candidates or units to pay an election-related sum of Rs. Expenditure above 2,000 has been proposed to be done through account pay cheque, online or digital form. Sources said that this recommendation has been made in an effort to bring greater transparency and eliminate irregularities in the expenditure incurred by candidates during elections.
At present candidate Rs. All payments above 10,000 shall be made by cheque, draft or bank transfer through a special bank account opened for the purpose of election expenditure. As per the instructions of the Election Commission, the candidates have to open a separate bank account for the purpose of election expenses one day before filing their nomination and all the expenses are done through it. Apart from this, candidates have to maintain accounts, cash book and bank book on a daily basis between the date of filling the candidature form and the date of declaration of result. Candidates have to include all the expenses from the date of filling the nomination form.
The candidate has to submit the election expenditure account details to the District Election Officer (DEO) within 30 days of declaration of election results. While announcing the assembly elections in Gujarat last week, the Election Commission had said that it has issued standard operating procedures for flying squads and statistical surveillance teams with a view to maintaining the integrity of elections. In addition, various surveillance teams are also formed to monitor election campaign expenses of candidates, distribution of bribes in cash or movement of illegal arms and ammunition or anti-social elements.
