Maharashtra Assembly Elections: Candidates Spending Lavishly, EC Keeps Watch

Chakan: The expenditure limit of candidates for this assembly election has been increased by Rs 12 lakh from the previous expenditure limit.

Therefore, the expenditure limit for a candidate for the assembly elections has been fixed at Rs 40 lakh. However, candidates, workers and office-bearers are spending freely on the campaign. So there's a picture in the state of 'let's spend it be expensive'.

The expenditure limit of candidates for the assembly elections has been increased by Rs 12 lakh. In the last assembly elections, the expenditure limit of candidates was Rs 28 lakh.

It has now become Rs 40 lakh. In order to maintain fairness during elections, the Election Commission sets a maximum expenditure limit for each candidate during the election. According to election commission rules, there is an expenditure limit of Rs 40 lakh per candidate from the date of filing of nomination.

Spending has increased with the changing times in elections. Earlier, elections were held in bhel bhatta, now there is no election in bhel bhata. Now, there are many types of election spending. The grim reality is that the cost of elections goes up to crores of rupees.

All candidates should ensure that they do not spend more than the limit. Open a new bank account and spend from this account itself. The model code of conduct should be properly implemented.

In order to ensure equal opportunity for all, the Election Commission has set a limit on how much a candidate can spend on campaigning. However, rich, wealthy candidates benefit from spending more. Candidates and their supporters spend huge amounts of money in secret. It doesn't actually come on paper.

In the assembly elections, the expenditure limit of a candidate is Rs 40 lakh, but the expenses of the candidates go up to crores of rupees. Voters are lured, large amounts of money, alcohol, foreign liquor distribution, some items are gifted as inducements. Women are given sarees and household items.

Food is served at hotels and dhabas. Some citizens are brought to the meeting with money for campaigning. When the Election Commission rules in place, many vehicles are kept for campaigning. The means of campaigning have changed. It also costs a lot.

Ordinary voters say the actual cost of candidates is in the billions. Police have found cash worth lakhs of rupees being distributed in several cities and villages and carrying cash worth lakhs of rupees in vehicles.