Expenditure is an important part of elections, be they of Lok Sabha, Assembly or civic bodies. The Election Commission (EC) always sets a cap on these expenditures. A limit is given to each candidate fighting a particular poll, exceeding which is considered to be violation of the Election Code of Conduct. If a candidate is found spending more money than the limit fixed by the Election Commission, it amounts to flouting the rule. In 1952, the poll expenditure was Rs 25,000 for each Lok Sabha constituency. It has reached Rs 94 lakh per constituency in 2024 now. One former senior leader and MP disclosed that except for some initial elections, afterwards candidates were not able to follow the limit of expenditure. Whatever the official limit may be, when elections are contested then party and candidate both have to take everything into account. The size of constituencies kept increasing, voters too have increased. Obviously, the parties have to expand their own network.”

 

According to one former Member of Parliament of Congress, it is not possible to contest polls strictly sticking to the expenditure fixed by Election Commission. This must be true that is why one sitting MP when offered ticket for Lok Sabha by a national party refused to contest citing the reason of not having enough money. A candidate of a regional party from Mumbai on condition of anonymity while talking to ‘The Hitavada’ elaborated the expenditure mechanism, “The polls expenditure limit was Rs 25,000 in 1952 which has reached Rs 94 lakh per Lok Sabha constituency in 2024. Officially it is not possible for a candidate to contest polls sticking to that limit. Team of Election Commission keeps watch on the expenditure which is visible but there are several hidden expenditure which a candidate can’t avoid.”