District Poll Panels Set Spending Limits for Lok Sabha Polls: Menu and Rates Fixed

New Delhi: With the Lok Sabha elections drawing near, district poll panels are setting rates for expenses to monitor election expenditures. In Punjab’s Jalandhar, candidates can spend Rs 15 on a cup of tea and the same on a samosa during public meetings. In contrast, in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandla, candidates can spend Rs 7 on tea and Rs 7.50 on a samosa. Social media users often criticize these rates, considering them out of sync with inflation.

Expenditure limits for Lok Sabha candidates vary across states, ranging from Rs 75 lakh to Rs 95 lakh. In Jalandhar, prices for snacks like chole bhature, mutton, and chicken are capped. Similarly, in other regions like Balaghat, Thoubal, and Chennai, rates for various items are fixed accordingly.

In Manipur’s Tengnoupal district, tea, samosa, and other snacks are priced at Rs 10 each, while in Chennai, the cost of tea and coffee has been adjusted compared to previous elections. Rate cards also cover expenses for infrastructure, vehicles, campaign materials, and accommodation.

Candidates are required to keep an account of their expenditures from nomination to result declaration, as per the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The Lok Sabha elections will be held in seven phases, beginning on April 19, with vote counting scheduled for June 4.