Reiterating its earlier directive, Election Commission of India on Thursday asked individuals candidates for the upcoming State Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh to open a separate account in bank or post office to maintain details of election expenses and facilitate monitoring.
Candidates can open this account till a day before filing nomination papers, it said and added that separate bank account will be opened to facilitate monitoring of election expenses. Every candidate will have to give his/her bank account number to returning officer of the concerned constituency while filing nomination papers.
If a candidate has neither opened a bank account nor he/she has given information about it, then the RO will issue notice to him/her. Bank account pertaining to election expenses can be opened in the name of the candidate or joint account with his/her agent. Joint account will not be opened with any family members unless he/she is candidate’s election agent, it added.
An official source said that bank account of the candidate can be opened at any place in the State in cooperative or any other bank or post office. Candidate will not use existing bank account sine he/she is required to open a separate bank account for this. Whatever private or any other funds are received by candidate for election expenses will be deposited in this account. Candidate will have to produce self-attested bank statement of election expenses to concerning district election officer within 30 days of declaration of election results.
It further informed that candidate will have to make all election-related expenses from this bank account. All payments will be made through cheque/draft or RTGS/NEFT. If a candidate has to pay less than Rs 20,000 to any individual/institution then it can be paid in cash by withdrawing the amount from separate bank account. Candidates will also have to ensure that they or their agents do not carry cash worth Rs 50,000 during electoral process.
If candidates do not make payments through cheque/draft or RTGS/NEFT then it will be assumed that they have not maintained bank accounts as per method prescribed by the commission.
All district election officers have been directed to issue suitable instructions all banks and post offices in their respective areas regarding opening of accounts. Banks/post offices have also been directed that priority should be given to deposit and withdrawal of amounts in these bank accounts during electoral process.