22 expenditure observers deployed in Bihar

  • | Saturday | 23rd March, 2019

PATNA: Election Commission of India (ECI) has so far deployed 22 expenditure observers (EO) in Bihar for monitoring expenses to be made by candidates in all parliamentary constituencies.Of the 22 observers, 20 are officers from Indian Revenue Service. Expenditure observers, district electoral officers (DEOs) and sub-ordinate officers monitor expenditures by taking daily details from candidates. The two others are from Indian Railway Accounts Service and Indian Defence Accounts Service, respectively.In Bihar, maximum expenditure cap on a Lok Sabha candidate is Rs 70 lakh. Candidates are also required to give every detail for advertisements and paid news given in print, electronic and social media. Patna DM-cum-DEO Kumar Ravi said three teams of flying squad and static surveillance team are functioning in every assembly constituency falling under a parliamentary constituency.“Video static and video viewing teams as well as assistant expenditure observers have also been deployed in the assembly constituencies for counting chairs, vehicles, garlands, posters and pamphlets for estimating expenditure,” he said.

PATNA: Election Commission of India (ECI) has so far deployed 22 expenditure observers (EO) in Bihar for monitoring expenses to be made by candidates in all parliamentary constituencies.Of the 22 observers, 20 are officers from Indian Revenue Service. The two others are from Indian Railway Accounts Service and Indian Defence Accounts Service, respectively.In Bihar, maximum expenditure cap on a Lok Sabha candidate is Rs 70 lakh. Expenditure observers, district electoral officers (DEOs) and sub-ordinate officers monitor expenditures by taking daily details from candidates. There is no financial cap for expenditure by a political party. Monitoring begins from the day the candidates file their nomination papers till four days after declaration of results.According to ECI’s compendium of instructions on election expenditure monitoring (February 2019), guided by the Representation of the People Act, 1951, a candidate is required to open a separate bank account for making the expenditures and also use it for accepting funds.A candidate is also required to submit expenditure details before respective DEO within 30 days of declaration of results. Failure to do so or deflated details could lead to disqualification for a period of three years. Such activities also fall under the category of electoral offence.According to rules, a candidate is required to maintain two separate registers (cash and bank register) on daily basis to fill details of expenditures under several heads, including public gatherings.Contesting candidates also have to maintain separate registers for funds received as assistance for campaigning either through cash or bank cheque and demand draft. Another register is required to maintain records of for goods and services received for the election campaign.A candidate is required to receive funds above Rs 10,000 only through cheque or demand draft. Candidates are also required to give every detail for advertisements and paid news given in print, electronic and social media. Patna DM-cum-DEO Kumar Ravi said three teams of flying squad and static surveillance team are functioning in every assembly constituency falling under a parliamentary constituency.“Video static and video viewing teams as well as assistant expenditure observers have also been deployed in the assembly constituencies for counting chairs, vehicles, garlands, posters and pamphlets for estimating expenditure,” he said.

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