Poll 2022: Observers brief agents on account maintenance
Source: The Sangai Express / DIO

Bishnupur, February 12 2022: Expenditure Observers deputed for Bishnupur district, Akta Jain, IRS and Mahesh G Jiwade, IRS on Saturday asserted that they will keep a close tab on election expenditures to ensure free, fair and abetment-free election in the district.

The Expenditure Observers made the statement while briefing election agents on election accounts maintenance held at PRC Hall in Bishnupur Mini Secretariat complex.

The Observers appealed to election agents of all contesting candidates in the district to impress upon their candidates to be role models in curbing illegal expenditures in the upcoming polls.

They reiterated that the Election Commission of India has recently revised the expenditure ceiling for candidates to Rs 28 lakh for the State.

The Observers also apprised election agents that election expenditure of candidates will be closely monitored from date of nominations till declaration of results.

Three rounds of expenditure registers inspection will be undertaken during the course of the election process with Election Expenditure Monitoring cell.

They also informed that apart from obtaining media certification from MCMC for any publicity in the media including social media, expenditures incurred towards development of contents must be duly entered in the expenses register of candidates.

They further informed that criminal antecedents must be published in the media at least three times during the course of election process and the expenses for such publication should be recorded in the relevant accounts register.

Replying to a query on the local tradition of in-kind donations to candidates during elections, the observers clarified that such donations may conveniently be skipped from the register entries provided donations are not re-distributed in exchange for votes.

Mentioned may be made that the District Election Office, Bishnupur had earlier notified the public, candidates and political parties that Election Observers who are deputed for the district will be available during office hours to raise any concerns related to the ensuing election.

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