Election Commission rate chart for permissible spending limit has not been updated since July 2011

Surprising the candidates ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls in February, the Maharashtra State Election Commission has retained the same cost ceiling approved in 2011 for the contestants to spend during the campaigning.

 

The notification raised eyebrows as the State Election Commission (SEC) completely ignored the inflation factor even as a simple cup of tea or coffee now cost more than it had in 2011. The state poll body has allowed Rs 8 for a cup of either or coffee while in reality, the hot beverages cost more today. The standard cost for a cup of tea and coffee would be around Rs 20 and Rs 30 respectively.

 

Apart from the snacks and hot beverages, costs of stationery goods, photocopies, and other necessary items have gone north in five years while the permitted amount remains bereft of reality.

 

The standard rate chart of expenditure incurred by the candidates has not been updated since 30 July 2011. The last civic elections were held on 16 February 2012. Firstpost has a copy of the rate chart of the last polls which fixed prices of tea and coffee at Rs 8, light snacks at RS 15, lunch/dinner at Rs70, fees to polling agent on poll day at Rs 100 while the polling agent (reliever) got Rs 50.

 

What has made matters complicated for the candidates is that the prices fixed for the necessary items are less than the prevailing market rates. For instance, the cost of each Xerox paper is kept at 45 paise while today’s rate is Re 1. Prices for a matchbox, chalk, and needle as sanctioned by the state election body are 50 paise, 20 paise and 50 paise respectively while these things now cost Re 1 for a matchbox and chalk each while the needle is priced at Rs 2.

 

Political parties are furious with the SEC for such paltry limit as election expenses.

 

“How could the SEC give us rates that are five years old? The polling agent takes Rs 500 to Rs 750 on poll day whereas the election department allowed us to spend only Rs 100. It’s totally ridiculous. These rates have to either change or the SECshould get us the polling agents,” said a Shiv Sena candidate contesting the poll from a western suburb. “It is impossible to contest the election following these norms. So we demand an increase in expense limits to Rs 10 lakh,” he said.

 

When contacted, Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Jageshwar S Saharia confirmed that they also got the demand to increase the present expense limit of Rs 10 lakh from Rs 5 lakh.