The State Election Commission has started flexing its muscles and exercising powers vested by the Constitution for administering free and fair elections to urban civic bodies and take actions against erring candidates. The commission is gunning for those representatives who have failed to provide details of election expenditures or have exceeded expenditure limits.
“We have begun sending notices to those who have failed to honour limits or have submitted false details,” said SD Sharma, State Election Commissioner. As many as 76 candidates of 2010 election to Khunti District Council will be served notices by the commission for not submitting details of election expenses made in the elections. “Consider it done,” said Sharma adding “Notices are ready.”
Significantly, contestants of around 13 District Council seats are likely to be served notices by the State Election Commission for failing to send their expenses details to the commission. Ideally the notices have to be addressed within 21 days from the date of issue.
Candidates of 11 District Council seats have submitted their expenditure details to the election commission however the commission is yet to go through the documents. Sharma said, “If there is anything which is contrary to law then the candidates are liable to be disqualified for 3 three years,” and they will be barred from contesting any election.
The commission has vowed to take action against candidates of Panchayat elections also for not furnishing the details of expenses incurred in the election. The commission has called a meeting of all Expenditure observers, returning officers and other officials involved in the election process on July 6. The meeting will focus on reducing the influence of money and human error in elections.