Pune: The Election Commission has announced a detailed rate list to account for candidates' campaign expenses in the upcoming assembly elections.
This list will include daily rental rates for luxury vehicles such as Mercedes-Benz and Land Cruisers, as well as campaign essentials like sofa sets and dining arrangements. This move aims to ensure that all campaign expenditures are meticulously recorded and accounted for.
According to the rate list prepared by the election branch, the use of a Mercedes for campaign purposes will cost ₹28,000 daily, while a Land Cruiser is priced at ₹23,500.
Candidates opting for vanity vans will incur a daily charge of ₹25,000, and a VIP sofa set is listed at ₹12,000.
This system reflects the Election Commission’s stringent approach to managing campaign costs, especially for candidates using high-end resources.
The rate structure also includes charges for smaller campaign resources, like motorcycles and rickshaws, priced at ₹500 and ₹1,250 per day, respectively.
For sound-enhanced auto-rickshaws, the daily rate rises to ₹2,000. More sophisticated equipment, such as drone cameras, are set at ₹10,000 per day, while LED vans are listed at ₹8,000.
In addition, the Election Commission has standardized meal prices at campaign events: vegetarian meals will cost ₹80 per plate, and non-vegetarian meals ₹200 per plate.
Water bottles, coconut water, and other beverages have also been included in the list to ensure transparency in recording candidates' campaign expenses.
Sonappa Yamgar, the nodal officer in charge of managing election expenses, stated, "Similar to our approach in the Lok Sabha elections, we have set rates for every item and service in the assembly elections.
We will carefully audit to confirm whether each candidate has included these expenses; if not, we will ensure they are accurately added to their total expenditure."
This list extends to polling agents as well, with each candidate required to allocate ₹200 per day for each agent stationed at polling centers or counting sites.
The measures emphasize the Election Commission’s commitment to maintaining transparency in election finances and preventing any excessive or unaccounted campaign spending.
