New Delhi: Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, the Election Commission is working on increasing the expenditure limit of candidates and linking it with the price index.
The last time the expenditure limit was enhanced by the Commission was in February 2011 when the limit was enhanced from Rs 25 lakh to Rs 40 lakh, after amending Rule 90 of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961.
According to sources, the Commission has held discussions on the issue and is working out a formula where expenditure limits could be linked to the price index to help contestants.
The sources said the Commission is still working on the formula and the poll expenditure limit for each Lok Sabha constituency could go up to around Rs 56 lakh.
"The Commission is still working on the expenditure limits and is yet to take a decision," said a senior EC official.
This follows demands from various quarters for raising the limits due to high inflation.
There is a limit of Rs 40 lakh for each parliamentary constituency in bigger states at present. It is as less as Rs 22 lakh for each Lok Sabha seat in Goa and only Rs 16 lakh for Lakshwadeep.
The Commission will also be enhancing the expenditure limits for Assembly constituencies which is different for various states and Union Territory.
It ranges between Rs 16 lakh to Rs 8 lakh for each assembly constituency, depending upon the size of the state. It was only Rs 10 lakh for bigger states prior to the last revision.
A candidate spending more than the specified limit is considered guilty of indulging in corrupt practices and could be disqualified by the EC as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
Sources said expenses filed by majority of candidates are much below the maximum permissible level.
BJP`s deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde had received a notice from the Commission for publicly saying at a poll rally that he had spent around Rs 8 crore during his 2009 election campaign, but had to later retract.
In his reply he said the remarks made by him were "rhetoric and nothing more".
