Setting a final preparation for polls, the Election Commission of India on Monday announced Rs16 lakh as the limit of expenses per candidate during the forthcoming Assembly elections in the State.
Officials sources said that the Commission would implement the model code of conduct in letter and spirit during Assembly elections this year. Expenses on election-related bulk SMS will also be monitored by various agencies, it added.
On elections expenses, it further said that a candidate would have to open an account for poll expenses on the day he files nomination papers. All election-related transactions will be made in this account through cheques. Funds provided by party will also have to be deposited in this account. Expenses on bulk SMS sent by candidate will also be considered as election expenditure. Complaint regarding misuse of SMS can be made to the police.
It further said a candidate can appoint two polling agents and one of them will be responsible for expenditure-related work. Use of children and animals for various election activities will be banned. Formats for expenditure register and affidavit for candidates have also been amended. They have been urged to use only amended register.
Political parties can appoint booth-wise polling agents to cooperate with booth level officers. Political parties have been urged to complete process of appointing these agents. Polling agents will assist booth level officers to ensure that electoral rolls have cent percent photographs. During elections, special vigilance will be maintained at airports, railway stations, bus stands, hotels, farmhouses, financial middlemen, liquor distribution and check-posts. Four flying squads have been constituted in every Assembly constituency in the State to monitor illegal fund transfer and distribution of liquor to influence voters.
A surveillance team will be under the disposal of flying squads during election period. The teams will be deployed at check-posts to monitor cash, liquor or other things. Special vigilance will also be maintained on paid news. For this, MCMC teams have been constituted at district level. For ensuring various arrangements, 200 sectors will be formed.
Videography of election-related activities will also be done. These activities include rallies, public meetings, nomination etc. Vulnerable and critical polling centres are being identified to ensure free and fair polls in districts. Apart from ensuing special security arrangements, micro observers will also be deployed at these centres. For voters’ convenience, this time photo-bearing polling slips will also be issued. Proper arrangements for drinking water, shade, light etc. will be made at polling centres during polling.