CEO bats against money and muscle power Code of conduct put on focus
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, November 29 2011: Chief Electoral Officer PC Lawmkunga has highlighted the adverse impacts of resorting to money and muscle power in the election process of a democratic country.

The CEO was speaking at the inaugural function of a two-day workshop cum training programme on monitoring electionrelated expenditures with regard to the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections at Hotel Classic here today.

The initiative to check use of black money and muscle power as well as incurring huge expenditures in the election was taken up at the instruction of the Election Commission of India.

The workshop is being participated by District Election Officers, Election Officers, Returning Officers, Police officers and officials of Income Tax, Excise, representatives of political parties, NGOs, student organisations and media persons.

CEO PC Lawmkunga

Speaking at the inaugural function of the workshop, the CEO categorically stated candidates who contesting in the State Legislative Assembly election can spend up to Rs 8 lakhs.

Candidates contesting in MP election can spend up to Rs 35 lakhs.

Any candidate found distributing cash or liquor or presenting gifts in their efforts to woo voters can be disqualified.

The CEO also advised the political parties to be cautious while publishing or telecasting paid news.

He also asked media houses not to work in favour of any candidate or political party.

Stating that strategic points would be identified to check movement of cash in the run up to the elections, PC Lawmkunga iterated that Income Tax officials would check illegal transfer of cash at airports, railway stations and bus stations.

Political parties should submit the lists of their star campaigners who would come from outside the State within seven days after issuance of election notice to the CEO otherwise expenditures incurred by the star campaigners would be added to the election expenditure of the candidates for whom they (star campaigners) are campaigning.

The CEO further asked all aspiring candidates to open separate bank accounts against which all the money which may be used in the elections should be deposited one day ahead of filing nomination papers .