EC curbs make canvassing a low-key affair

Tirupati: The campaigning in the ensuing general elections has been witnessing a sea change with its low profile and without much paraphernalia, thanks to the fear of ceiling on election expenditure. No party is an exception to this trend as whatever expenditure they incur on campaigning automatically goes into the candidates account.

As the maximum expenditure for any candidate contesting for the Assembly was fixed at Rs.28 lakhs and for Lok Sabha candidates Rs.70 lakhs by the Election Commission (EC), they cannot spend more than Rs.10,000 on an average per day. The candidates were more vigilant on the risks involved in this if they go beyond these limits on record and have been taking measures to follow the guidelines.

As it is very difficult to maintain huge contingents of people and vehicles for the campaign with meagre resources at disposal, candidates have been sending small groups of workers having around 10 members for door to door canvassing with only pamphlets in their hands. Booth conveners of political parties have to play crucial role in this exercise. They need to mobilise the workers and take them to every house to seek votes for their candidate. At the most parties are hiring a campaign vehicle to tour in constituencies by playing party songs and propagating their party schemes and promises.

In the past, this trend was confined to smaller parties and independent candidates who used to rely on low budget canvassing. The scorching Sun was another reason for the dull campaigning. Party workers go door to door in the mornings and evenings only and stay back at their homes and party offices during the other times in the day.

According to a party worker, the time for canvassing was too short this time during which the candidate cannot cover entire constituency by visiting every household. So, they send small groups simultaneously to different areas with the pamphlets. Candidates and other key leaders participate in area level meetings.

Needless to say that the candidates on violating the code of conduct including incorrect account or expenditure beyond the permitted limit may have to face disqualification for up to three years. And they should submit their registers pertaining to election expenditure, bank passbooks, bills and vouchers once in every three days to the expenditure observers appointed by the election commission in every constituency and get them audited. To be on safe side, the candidates are not resorting to any visible expenditure on their campaign.