ECI fixes rate cards for poll expenses

Mumbai: In a bid to keep tabs on candidates’ expenditure this Assembly election, they will have to buy food and rent chairs, sound systems and other items as per the rate card decided by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The rates have been decided after discussions with political parties, said ECI officials.

The Election Commis-sion of India is trying out different permutations and combinations, one of them being to decide the rates of things including food and beverages provided to supporters participating in the campaign rallies. Right from small badges to the raths or vehicles used for campaigning — the rates of all items have been included in the rate card prepared by the election officer.

Mumbai city collector and chief of election for Mumbai district, Shivajirao Jondhale, said, “We have decided the charges of items ranging from food to the material used for campaigning after discussions with political parties. Each district has a different rate card.”

The rates are the same for Mumbai city and the suburbs. Items whose rates have not been mentioned will carry the market rate.

Mr Jondhale said, “We will keep an eye on expenditure and material used by the candidates with the help of videos. Candidates will have to maintain a register and we will tally their expenditure with our register.”

Two deputy commissioners have been appointed for each district and they will regularly check the candidates’ expenses. Each regional officer will keep a close eye on the candidates of 10 constituencies.

The expenditure limit for each candidate for the Assembly elections has been fixed at Rs 28 lakhs.