Adhere by guidelines of Election Commission: Expenditure Observers tell political parties

OUR CORRESPONDENT

MANGALDAI: The Election Observers (expenditure) for the four Assembly constituencies of Darrang district held a discussion with various political parties at the Conference Hall of the office of the Deputy Commissioner at Mangaldai on Sunday. 

Vinay Kumar Kantheti - entrusted for the 65 Kalaigaon and the 68 Dalgaon LAC and Harsh Vardhan Umre - entrusted for the 66 Sipajhar and the 67 Mangaldai (SC) LAC requested the representatives of the political parties which will be contesting the upcoming Assembly Election in the district to adhere by the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI) on expenditure compliance. 

The Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer duo put stress especially on the Rs 30.8 lakh maximum expenditure limit set by the ECI, while explaining how crossing that limit by applying various means put the monetarily less affluent parties and candidates at a disadvantage, and consequently leading to the erosion of faith in democracy. Breaching the limit is a roadblock in achieving ECI's aim of free and fair elections, added both the election Observers.

The Expenditure Observer duo also asked the representatives of the political parties to maintain their expenditure accounts diligently, so that expenditure monitoring by the Observers and the various cells set up for smooth conduct of the upcoming Assembly Election can carry out their duty in an efficient and time-bound manner. The Expenditure Observers also spoke briefly about the do's and the don'ts of ECI guidelines and requested the parties to go through them diligently.

Representatives of the major political parties namely BJP, Congress, AIUDF and others also took part in the meeting and gave assurance to follow the guidelines set by the ECI. 

Deputy Commissioner Dilip Kumar Borah and all the Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers also attended the meet.  

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