M A I N   N E W S

assembly polls
Post-poll spending curbs to spoil winners’ party
Deepkamal Kaur/TNS

Jalandhar, February 25
Candidates cutting across party lines appear restive at guidelines that expenses incurred by them even after the polling, would be added to their election expense by the Election Commission.

A notice served on a Congress candidate, Joginder Pal Jain, by the District Election Officer of Moga, first set the cat among the pigeons after Jain allegedly hosted a lavish party to celebrate the birthday of his grandson almost three weeks after the polling on February 18.

Confirming the guideline, the DEO, Jalandhar, Priyank Bharti, today informed that expenses incurred after the results are declared on March 6 would also be taken into account. Video surveillance teams of Returning Officers will follow victory processions and record them for making an assessment of expenses.

Bharti claimed that he had informed all political parties about the Election Commission’s directions before the polls. He now plans to call all candidates again for a meeting sometime next week and re-issue the directions. “We have been asked to note down all expenses of candidates incurred from the time of filing their nomination papers till the day of the counting,” he said.

Candidates do not recall if such instructions were issued at all in previous elections. The Congress candidate from Jalandhar Central, Rajinder Beri wondered aloud, “ The Election Commission is possibly over-reacting. What if a family celebration falls due during days when the model code of conduct is in force?”

Beri and others point out that once the polling is over, there cannot be any question of influencing the voters. Parties and celebrations, or even victory processions, cannot possibly affect the outcome of the poll. Nor can such expense make polling less free or unfair once the EVMs record the votes and are sealed.

Former Local Bodies Minister and BJP candidate from Jalandhar Central, Manoranjan Kalia said: “A good road

show is normally what I have been holding after results are declared. Party activists arrange drums, garlands and distribution of ladoos. But some supporters sometimes do go overboard and plan lavish feasts for us to celebrate our victory. I do not think that such expenses should be added to our poll expenditure”.

The SAD candidate from Nakodar, Gurpartap Wadala, said he was not aware of any such direction. “In case, there are such guidelines, these are totally uncalled for because it would not be possible for us to control the emotions of the supporters, especially after such a long wait for the results. We cannot help if people from villages and cities come out on the streets”, he said.

Finally, it may not even be practical for the EC to keep tabs on post-poll expenses.