7 February
Sandeep Dhand ( Ludhiana )
As the nation gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission has taken a significant step by determining the permissible expenses for candidates across different political parties. A committee, led by Divisional Commissioner Jalandhar, was established to formulate a comprehensive rate list encompassing 201 different items related to election campaigns.
The meeting, which included election tehsildars from Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, and Nawanshahr, witnessed the fixing of rates for various expenditures associated with election campaigns. This encompassed costs related to rallies of all scales, daily expenses, promotional materials, and even provisions like food and drinks. Notably, the newly established rates surpass those of the previous elections, signaling an adjustment to current economic realities.
The rate list, duly approved by the Divisional Commissioner and subsequently endorsed by the Election Commission at the state level in Punjab, will now be disseminated to all political parties. For the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the prescribed limit for expenses by a single candidate stands at 95 lakhs, while in Vidhan Sabha elections, the limit is set at Rs. 40 lakhs per candidate.
In a bid to ensure transparency and compliance, the Election Commission deploys multiple teams to scrutinize candidates’ expenditures. Candidates attempting to conceal their expenses face stringent scrutiny, as exceeding the stipulated limits could lead to disqualification from the electoral race. This stringent monitoring mechanism aims to maintain the integrity of the electoral process and prevent any undue influence arising from excessive spending.
It is noteworthy that the expense limits for the Lok Sabha elections have been deliberately set higher than those of the 2022 Vidhan Sabha elections, possibly reflecting the increased scale and significance of national campaigns. As the Election Commission takes these proactive measures, the stage is set for a more regulated and transparent electoral process in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.