Telangana polls: Election Commission caps candidates' cash expenditure
The cash expenditure limit of a contesting candidate has been reduced to Rs 10,000 per day from the earlier Rs 20,000 by the Election Commission, said state Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar in Hyderabad on Friday. The decision by the EC was communicated to him on Thursday and the directive will be strictly implemented, Kumar told reporters.
An upper limit of Rs 28 lakh has been fixed by the EC, for expenditure of a candidate in the upcoming Assembly elections in Telangana.
"The cash transaction per day has been reduced to Rs 10,000. It was Rs 20,000 earlier. This will help curb illegal money flow during the elections. We are interacting with Intelligence wing of the Finance Ministry on a regular basis," he said.
Civil societies should play a pivotal role in curbing the menace, he said on the distribution of money to lure voters during elections.
Replying to a query, he said corporates and firms should declare paid holiday on the poll day to enable their employees cast votes.
"Employees are entitled to vote on that day. Not granting of paid holiday to employees entitled to vote on the date of poll by the employer is against the provision of Representation of People Act. It is a non-cognisable offence," Rajat Kumar said.
Telangana goes to polls on December 7 and the votes will be counted on December 11.
