The increase in the spending limit will help candidates participate in the Bihar assembly vote, as well as the by-elections to a Lok Sabha and 59 assembly seats.
The Ministry of Legal Affairs has increased the cap on voting expenses for the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections by 10%. The measure follows a recommendation from the Election Commission in light of the restrictions imposed during the coronavirus. [COVID-19] pandemic.
The notification, issued late Monday night, will help candidates to participate in the Bihar Assembly elections, as well as those fighting for by-elections, to 59 Assembly seats in 11 states and a seat in Lok Sabha.
The poll spending cap varies between states, and candidates in Assembly elections in larger states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu can now spend up to ₹ 30.8 lakhs compared to ₹ 28 lakhs before.
For a candidate participating in a Lok Sabha survey in these states, the revised limit on survey spending is now ₹ 77 lakhs instead of the previous amount of ₹ 70 lakhs.
Goa, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and some Union Territories, depending on the size of their constituencies and population, have a lower ceiling for voting expenses. Here, while the improved ceiling for a Lok Sabha candidate is now ₹ 59.4 lakhs, those competing in an Assembly can spend up to ₹ 22 lakhs.
The last time the spending ceiling was improved was in 2014, just before the Lok Sabha polls.
More than a month ago, the EC had recommended a 10% increase in spending for all elections to be held during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking into account the problems that candidates may face while campaigning under the various protocols. of COVID established by the voting panel. .
However, the notification that modified the Rules of Electoral Conduct does not mention that the limit has been increased as a result of the pandemic or if it is only for the COVID-19 period.
“The amended rules will enter into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette and will remain in force until the date that can be notified by the Central Government,” said the Bulletin notification.
While the three-phase Assembly elections in Bihar will take place on October 28, November 3 and November 7, by-elections for the Assembly seats in most other states will be held. held on November 3. Byelection for the Lok Sabha lone seat, the Valmiki Nagar seat in Bihar, and three Assembly seats in Manipur will be held on November 7.
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