Bishnupur: Expenditure Observers deputed for Bishnupur district Akta Jain, and Mahesh G. Jiwade, today asserted that they will keep a close tab on election expenditures to ensure free, fair and abetment-free election in the district.
They also appealed to the election agents of all contesting candidates in the district to impress upon their candidates to be role models in curbing illegal expenditures in the upcoming polls.Â
The Expenditure Observers made the statements Saturday while briefing election agents on election accounts maintenance held at PRC Hall in Bishnupur Mini Secretariat complex.
Expenditure Observers reiterated that Election Commission of India has recently revised the expenditure ceiling for candidates to 28 lakhs for the State. The Observers also apprised election agents that election expenditure of candidates will be closely monitored from date of nominations till declaration of results. Three round of expenditure registers inspection will be undertaken during the course of election process with Election Expenditure Monitoring cell, they added.
They also informed that apart from obtaining media certification from MCMC for any publicity in the media including social media, expenditures incurred towards development of contents must be duly entered in the expenses register of candidates. They further informed that criminal antecedents must be published in the media atleast three times during the course of election process and the expenses for such publication should be recorded in the relevant accounts register.
Replying on a query on the local tradition of in-kind donations to candidates during elections, the observers clarified that such donations may conveniently be skipped from the register entries provided donations are not re-distributed in exchange for votes.
Mentioned may be made that District Election Office, Bishnupur had earlier notified to general public, candidates and political parties that Election Observers who are deputed for the district will be available during office hours to raise any concerns related to the ensuing election.
