The Election Commission has requested the RBI to enhance cash withdrawal limit of candidates contesting Assembly polls to Rs 2 lakh per week from the Rs24,000 imposed post demonetisation as they would find it difficult to meet their campaign expenditure. In a letter to RBI Governor Urijit Patel, Director General (Election Expenditure) Dilip Sharma said that this enhanced limit may be kept in place only till the date of declaration of results on March 11, 2017.
"The ECI has been apprised of the problems being faced by the candidates from different political parties due to imposition of limits on withdrawal of cash from banks," the letter said. The poll panel said despite paying amounts through cheques, candidates still need hard cash for petty expenses.
The Commission said with a weekly withdrawal limit of Rs24,000, a candidate would be able to withdraw Rs96,000 in cash during the election process which lasts three to four week.