Bhubaneswar: The Election Commission Of India on Thurseday enhanced the ceiling of election expenditure for MLA and MP candidates. According to a release issued by the ECI, the step is taken after getting recommendations from the Committee to study the Cost of Factors. This is going to help candidates who are contesting the forthcoming elections.
According to the release, the ceiling has been raised for candidates in assembly constituencies from the existing Rs 20 lakh to Rs 28 lakh, and from Rs 28 lakh to Rs 40 lakh, in respective states and Union territories. For parliamentary constituencies, the limit has been increased from the Present Rs 54 lakh to Rs 75 lakh, and Rs 70 lakh to Rs 95 lakh. The expenditure limits will be applicable immediately and are going to help the candidates who are contesting in the forthcoming polls in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, etc.
The last revision was carried out in 2020 when the expenditure was increased ten percent. According to the ECI release, “The ECI formed a committee to study the cost factors, and Cost Inflation Index 2014 substantially. It also factored into the changing modes of campaigning, which is gradually shifting to virtual campaign”. The commission further said that the committee recommended rise in expenditure limit after considering factors such as demand from political parties in this regard, increase in the number of electors from 2014 to 2021 from 834 million to 936 million and rise in Cost Inflation Index from 2021 to 2022 (240 to 307, up 32.07 per cent).