Need for re-look at poll expense limit: CPI-M
By IANSThursday, January 27, 2011
KOLKATA - Citing the devaluation of money since 2006, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday said the Election Commission needs to take a re-look at the expenditure limit of Rs.10 lakh fixed for each assembly poll candidate.
Rabin Deb, senior CPI-M leader who was leading the party’s delegation at an all party meet convened by West Bengal’s Chief Electoral Officer, (CEO), said: “We have put the issue of devaluation of money since 2006 and requested the EC to take a re-look into the expenditure limit.”
Deb also suggested that each candidate should be allowed to nominate an agent who would also operate the account of his/her expenses.
In the meeting, the CEO briefed them about the Election Commission’s guidelines and expenditure procedure and limit for the candidates in the poll bound state.
“We held the meeting on mainly two issues. First on the defacement of public and private property and second monitoring of expenditure of the candidates. We have asked the political parties to cooperate with us and authorities at the local level on these issues,” said the CEO Sunil Gupta.
The ECO also mentioned that the expenditure limit for each candidate for election campaign is Rs.10 lakh. The candidates have to open an account in a government bank and have to give all the details of expenditure pertaining to elections from this account.
On Deb’s suggestion on nominating an agent for operating the account, Gupta said; “We will take up the issue with the Election Commission.”
On defacement of public and private property, he said there can be no graffiti on public buildings. In case of private property, the candidates and parties have to seek permission from the owner, he said.
“Our resources are limited. We do not have any problem with the expenditure limit fixed by the Election Commission,” said Mukul Roy, union minister of state for shipping and Trinamool Congress leader.
