Election Commission Of India Raises Poll Expenditure Cap For Candidates Ahead Of Assembly Polls

Ahead of crucial assembly elections in five states, the Election Commission of India (ECI) in a major decision has enhanced election expenditure limit for candidates in assembly constituencies from the existing Rs 20 lakh to Rs 28 lakh, and from Rs 28 lakh to 40 lakh, in respective states and Union Territories.

In the case of parliamentary constituencies, the expenditure ceiling has been raised from the current Rs 54 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, and Rs 70 lakh to Rs 95 lakh.

The revised expenditure limit will be in effect for all upcoming elections, according to the Election Commission.

According to the poll panel, Rs 95 lakh for parliamentary constituencies and Rs 40 lakh for assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi (UT), Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir (UT), Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and West Bengal.

For Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura the ceiling is Rs 95 lakh and Rs 28 lakh for parliamentary and assembly constituencies respectively.

It is Rs 75 lakh and Rs 28 lakh for parliamentary and assembly elections respectively for Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Puducherry (UT) and Sikkim.

The UTs of Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep, and Ladakh have only parliamentary constituencies. After the revision, candidates here can spend a maximum of Rs 75 lakh.

The announcement by the Election Commission comes just days before the declaration of the schedule for assembly polls in five states — Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The last major revision in the election expenditure limit for candidates was carried out in 2014, which was further increased by 10 per cent in 2020.

Simultaneously, the Election Commission formed a committee comprising Harish Kumar, retired IRS officer, Umesh Sinha, Secretary General and Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner in Election Commission of India to study the cost factors and other related issues, and make suitable recommendations.

The committee invited suggestions from political parties, chief electoral officers and election observers. The committee found that there has been an increase in the number of electors and cost inflation index since 2014 substantially. It also factored into the changing modes of campaigning, which is gradually shifting to virtual campaign.

Having regard to demand from political parties to raise existing election expenditure limit for candidates and increase in electors from 2014 to 2021 from Rs 834 million to Rs 936 million (up by 12.23 per cent) and rise in cost inflation index from 2014-15 to 2021-22 from 240 to 317 (up by 32.08 per cent), said the committee furnishing its recommendations to enhance the ceiling limit.

The commission has accepted the recommendations of the committee and has decided to enhance the existing election expenditure limit for candidates. Accordingly, revised limits have now been notified by the law, justice and legislative departments.