The Union Government has hiked the poll spending limit for candidates contesting Lok Sabha and Assembly elections by 10 percent.
- Centre has approved the hike based on the recommendation of the Election Commission that contestants be allowed to spend more on campaigning keeping in mind difficulties they may face due to COVID-19 curbs.
- The notification issued by the Law Ministry on October 20, 2020 said the maximum expenditure a candidate can incur for campaigning in Lok Sabha polls is now Rs. 77 lakh. It was Rs. 70 lakh earlier.
- The last time the expenditure ceiling was enhanced was ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in 2014.
- For Assembly election, it has been hiked from Rs. 28 lakh to Rs. 30.80 lakh.
- The notification that amended the Conduct of Elections Rules, however, does not mention that the limit has been increased in the wake of the pandemic or if it is only for the COVID-19 period.
- Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and a few Union Territories, based on the size of their constituencies and population, have a lower ceiling on poll expenditure. Here while the enhanced ceiling for a Lok Sabha candidate is now ₹59.4 lakhs those contesting an Assembly can spend up to ₹22 lakhs.
(AIR and The Hindu)
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