The Election Commission of India would keep a close watch on how money would to play out in the upcoming elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur. This is the first major election involving 690 assembly constituencies and 60 crore voters, post demonetisation.
Candidates would have to make all payments of over Rs 20,000 from an account they would have to set up specifically for funding the elections.
Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said in response to a question that while they were mulling over a total shift to digital payments for election expenses, at this point they could not comment on the details .
“However, the Election Commission has made it very clear that we are in favour of reducing the amount of anonymous donation from Rs 20,000 to Rs 2000 for the purposes of making relevant laws” Zaidi stated.
The Commission would also monitor the impact of demonetisation in the elections, he said. He also pointed out that the absence of black money “could affect the elections in other ways”.
The Commission is also focusing on the issue of paid news. Zaidi made it clear that candidates being projected on channels owned by them or their political parties would amount to paid news. Candidates will also have to furnish, along with their affidavits, a no due certificate from their utilities providers including rents for government housing they may be availing.
