New Delhi: Election Commission of India has constituted a committee comprising Harish Kumar, former IRS and DG (Investigation), Umesh Sinha, Secretary General and DG (Expenditure) to examine the issues concerning expenditure limit for a candidate in view of increase in number of electors and rise in Cost Inflation Index and other factors.
Considering Covid-19, the Ministry of Law & Justice on 19 October has notified an amendment in Rule 90 of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 enhancing the existing expenditure limit by 10 per cent. This increase of 10 per cent will be applicable with immediate effect in ongoing elections.
Expenditure limit for a candidate was last revised in 2014, while in respect of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana it was revised vide notification dated 10 October 2018.
In last six years the limit was not increased despite increase in electorate from 834 million to 910 million in 2019 to 921 million now. Further, Cost Inflation Index during this period has increased from 220 to 280 in 2019 to 301 now.