Kolhapur: The filing of nominations for the Kolhapur and Hatkanangale constituencies will commence from Thursday. The last date to file the nomination is April 4, said Daulat Desai, District returning officer, Kolhapur.Desai said that the political candidates can file their nominations from 11am to 3pm at the election office. For unreserved candidates, a deposit of Rs25,000 is mandatory, while for the reserved category candidates, a deposit of Rs12,500 is mandatory. He said, “All the candidates filing their nominations will have to open a separate bank account, a day prior to the filing of the nomination.”He also said that during the filing of the nomination, only five people will be allowed to accompany the candidate within 100 metres of the district election office. No rally will be allowed to be carried out during or before the process.Desai added that the candidates, while filing their affidavit, will also have to mention about the criminal cases lodged against them (if there are any). The candidates will also have to publish the information of the criminal cases in local newspapers and electronic media for the public knowledge, at least three times, two days prior to the voting day.The candidates will also have to take an oath of the Indian constitution. The candidates will also have to maintain an expenditure book, which will be inspected frequently by the shadow committee of the election office.According to Desai, the accounting team will also be keeping a shadow watch on the candidate’s political expenses from the day he/she files the nomination. If there is a contradiction in the expenses between the accounting team and the candidate, a report will accordingly be sent to the Election Commission of India.TNN

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