Election Commission extended the poll expenditure limit for candidates for contesting Lok Sabha and for Assembly Polls by 10%. Candidates are now allowed to spend more on Campaigning just to keeping in mind the after effects of Covid19 pandemic.
#BreakingNews LIVE: Ahead of Bihar Assembly Elections, govt increases poll expenditure limit by 10% https://t.co/XW2d6SaFEI
— Newsd (@GetNewsd) October 20, 2020
Spike in expenditure will help candidates contesting Bihar Assembly Elections as well as Bypolls to one Lok Sabha and 59 Assembly seats. Over a month ago, Election Commission recommended 10% hike in expenditure common for all candidates of all Bypolls during Covid19 Pandemic.
This hike was recommended keeping difficulties in mind Candidates may face amid restrictions of covid which includes holding rallies as well. The notification issued by Law Ministry on Monday night saying maximum expenditure a candidate can incur for campaigning in Lok Sabha polls is now Rs 77 lakh. It was so far Rs 70 lakh. For assemblies, it has been hiked from Rs 28 lakh to Rs 30.8 lakh.
The maximum expenditure limit for candidates to spend for their campaigning varies from state to state. The notification states: “Shall come into force on the date of their publication in the official Gazette and shall remain in force till such date as may be notified by the Central Government.”
Senior Election Commission said, “The maximum expenditure limit was enhanced for a reason. But the notification need not mention the reason.” The last time the expenditure ceiling was enhanced was in 2014 just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
