Officials told to watch poll expenditures closely

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Special Election Expenditure Observer of the State B Muralikumar on Saturday directed the district election officers to keep close on election expenditure spent by candidates as such measures are must to ensure to conduct free fair elections.

He was speaking at the meeting attended by district election officers, deputy returning officers and assistant election expenditure committee officials held at deputy Commissioner's office in the city.

As candidates’ expenses are limited to Rs 95 lakh for Lok Sabha constituencies, he asked the officials to keep close vigil on their election expenditure spending.

The expenditure limit refers to the amount a candidate is allowed to legally spend on election campaigning, including public meetings, rallies, advertisements including through social media and influencers, posters, banners, and vehicles.

He also instructed them to monitor all suspicious bank transactions and digital payments, Repeated payments of similar amounts from digital payment wallets to multiple recipients must be analysed daily at the district level, he said.

He said the election expense account should be maintained in the format provided by the Election Commission.

The expenditure also included the deposit for their candidature. The officer also wanted the officials to tighten their screening at all checkposts.

Money above Rs 50,000 without valid documents could not be carried. He also asked the election expenditure observers, flying squads, other special squads and surveillance officers to work efficiently at their level besides to maintain a separate register for violation of code model code of conduct cases.

Deputy commissioner K V Rajendra explained about the checkposts and other activities initiated by district administration. City Police commissioner Dr Chandragupta, Superintendent of police Seema Latkar, ZP CEO K M Gayatri were present.