To check under-declaration of campaign spending by candidates, the Maharashtra State Election Commission has fixed the rates of items that nominees tend to under-report to show they haven't breached the poll expenditure limit.
As the assembly election nominees file their nomination papers on Thursday and Friday, they are sure to embark on roadshows with their supporters, as they are wont to do. For such rallies, as per the panel's directive, no more than Rs 15,000 will be considered for the use of chariot, Rs 3,000 for the music band, Rs 15 each for vada-pav and tea, Rs 85 for a vegetarian rice plate and Rs 150 for a non-vegetarian plate. The panel will also set the rate for water bottles.
These expenses, incurred during the celebrations accompanying the filing of nomination papers, will be added to the candidates' aggregate poll expense, which is capped at Rs 28 lakh.
"With the EC's move, no candidate can distort their expenditure by claiming a lower rate," an official said. Teams have also been formed to monitor election expenses.
Rates of motorcycles, flags, trucks, tempo, banjo, road monitors, and so forth, used in publicity rallies, are also fixed. It's Rs 5 for small flags, Rs 35 for silk flags, Rs 60 for large flags, Rs 5 for cloth mufflers, Rs 10 for silk mufflers, Rs 2,000 for 10 drums, Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 for 25 and 50 drums, respectively. Drums can be played for two hours at this rate.
Even the firecrackers used in such processions have their prices fixed – Rs 350 for 600 threads of firecracker, Rs 520 for 1,000 and Rs 2,500 for 2,000.
This is part of the election watchdog's efforts to level the field for poorer candidates, who are often overshadowed by their peers from large political parties with deep pockets.
Transparent Pricing
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- From tea to rice plates to music band, prices of items used in nomination rallies have been fixed by EC so candidates can’t under-report them
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- Contenders are known to under-declare prices of things so their overall poll spend appears to be less than it is — and within the `28 lakh limit
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—Zee Media Newsroom
