Election Commission tightens screw on expenses

The Election Commission has directed the expenditure incurred on security arrangements like barricades and rostrums for campaigning are to be credited to the candidate in whose constituency the meeting takes places or to a group of candidates who are present.

In cases where there were more than one candidate of the political party present at the time of the meeting of the leader, the expenditure would be apportioned equally among all, the EC said in a letter to Chief Electoral Officers of all states and Union Territories.

The District Election Officer of the district where such a meeting takes place should obtain the final costs from the government agencies concerned within three days of the event and intimate to the candidates their respective share of expenditure, it said.

Where such construction of rostrums or barricades were done on account of security considerations by the candidates or the political party from their own funds, amount would be reflected in the accounts of the candidate concerned or a group of candidates present in the meeting of the leader.

In all cases where government agencies were constructing barricades or rostrums, the candidate or political parties would deposit the estimated cost in advance, it said.

For expenditure already incurred on such items between the date of notification issued for the first and second phases of elections, the concerned DEOs should immediately  take action and inform candidates concerned.