(Tribune)
In a first, the State Election Commission will appoint separate observers to monitor election expenditure of candidates for the urban local bodies elections to be held in March-April.“Although we have been appointing election observers for bringing about transparency in the elections, this time we will appoint separate observers whose main task will be to monitor the budgetary expenditure of candidates,” said State Election Commissioner Subardhan after a meeting with political representatives.
During the all-party meeting, representatives of political parties had also pressed for raising the maximum limit of expenditure of the candidates for these elections. During the 2013 urban local bodies elections, the maximum budgetary limit for the Nagar Palika Mayor was Rs 8 lakh, Deputy Mayor Rs 1 lakh and Nagar Palika member Rs 1 lakh . These are expected to be revised.
