Parties ask candidates to submit election expenses

While the deadline for submitting details on campaign expenses ends on Monday, January 12, political parties say they are ensuring their candidates provide the necessary details in time.

All candidates must submit their information within 30 days of the results being announced on December 13.

District leaders of major political parties said they had already warned candidates vying on the ticket and local bodies concerned about the deadline. They said most of the candidates have already given the details.

District Congress Committee (DCC) president Muhammad Shiyas said his party has already instructed all its candidates to submit the details without delay. “Almost everyone has already submitted details,” Mr. Shiyas said.

“The matter has been forwarded to party units in all districts. Local leaderships have been instructed to take initiative to encourage candidates to submit details without delay. This will be duly monitored and necessary steps will be taken if anyone fails to comply with the deadline,” CPI(M) district secretary S. Sathish said.

BJP district president (Ernakulam city) KS Shyju said that the party will issue a reminder call to all its candidates from the call center at its district office. Candidates are required to submit the details to the secretaries of the relevant local bodies. Details need to be given in Form N 30, which is for accounting for election expenditure.

In addition to information such as the date, amount and nature of the expense, the name and address of those who received the amount must be entered in the form. The form must also include the numbers of the invoices and receipts.

Amounts that do not comply with the market rates determined by the Election Commission will be rejected.

Candidates who fail to provide details of election expenses may be disqualified for five years. The ceiling for candidates in grama panchayats has been fixed at ₹25,000. In blocks and municipalities, a candidate was allowed to spend up to ₹75,000. The permissible limit in corporations and district panchayats was ₹ 1.5 lakh.