Star campaigners are only allowed to carry up to Rs 1 lakh in cash under ECI regulations

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has imposed a spending limits on candidates as well as celebrity campaigners. During a campaign, these individuals are permitted to carry a maximum of Rs 1 lakh in cash, and any candidates who follow them are limited to carrying no more than Rs 50,000 in cash.

Officials said that the ECI has been carefully monitoring the spending of well-known campaigners in addition to candidate costs. “Candidates themselves may not carry more than Rs 50,000 in cash, while celebrity campaigners may take up to Rs 1 lakh. A senior official said, “Any excess amount found will be confiscated, and appropriate action will be taken against the individual.”

In the meanwhile, the Commission has set expenditure limits for candidates running in the Lok Sabha elections of 2024. According to authorities, candidates in smaller states may spend no more than Rs 75 lakh, while those in bigger states can spend up to Rs 95 lakh.

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Comparably, the spending ceiling for candidates in the assembly elections is Rs 40 lakh, and all of their out-of-pocket payments for meetings, rallies, ads, and cars should fall within this amount.

In addition, the poll panel mandated that candidates keep an exhaustive journal of all the expenditures they incur each day from the time their candidacy is filed until the election is over. Within 30 days after an election is over, these documents must be turned in to the Commission for review.

According to the authorities, candidates are also required to keep a separate record for their daily costs and submit thorough reports to the local election office every day. The costs incurred for meetings, rallies, and other campaign-related events should be included in this register, along with any supporting video footage.

Furthermore, the poll panel has established a rate in the event that a candidate hosts a celebrity for campaigning purposes. According to the officials, the poll panel allows candidates to pay a maximum of Rs 2 lakh to these invitees; any amount beyond this may incur penalties. Additionally, the Commission has predefined rates for small expenses such as food, transportation, and flower garlands.

Moreover, the candidate and the campaigner may split any costs related to events where celebrities are included. A percentage of the costs will be credited to the candidate if, for instance, they travel with a well-known campaigner or use their name and likeness in campaign materials.

According to the authorities, these laws are based on the Representation of the People Act 1951’s specified requirements, which seek to uphold accountability and transparency in election expenditures and provide equal opportunities for all candidates.

It’s interesting to note that Lok Sabha candidates were only permitted to spend a maximum of Rs 25,000 in the first general election (1951–1952), and as little as Rs 10,000 in some Northeastern states. The expenditure restriction was increased to Rs 35,000 for the majority of states in 1971, marking the first alteration to the limits. The threshold was increased once again in 1980, this time by a sizable sum to Rs 1 lakh per candidate. It was increased once again in 1984, to Rs 1.3 lakh in some smaller states and Rs 1.5 lakh in certain larger ones.

Beginning on April 19, voting for the 543 Lok Sabha seats will take place nationwide in seven stages, with results being announced on June 4.