Panaji: The Election Commission of India
(ECI) is wary of blatant practices by some candidates who
clandestinely break the upper spending ceiling during polls, a
senior election officer said today.
"The election commission is concerned over unaccountable
expenditure (by candidates)," ECI`s Director General Akshay
Rauth told reporters at a press conference here.
He said the zonal conference of chief electoral officers
of eleven states and Union territories scheduled on August 31
in Panaji will review the situation related to election
expenditure.
"The deliberations will also be made on how candidates
should not be allowed to break the election expenditure
(ceiling) clandestinely," he added.
Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quereshi and Election
Commissioner V S Sampat will be present at the conference that
is also likely to discuss the phenomenon of paid news.
"Media and political parties play significant role in the
fair election practices. On June 8, chief electoral officers
have been issued a set of guidelines. They have to do their
best to deal with the problem," Rauth said.
The efforts are on to ensure that everyone above 18 years
be on the voters` list and participate in the voting, he said.
"ECI is committed to have perfect electoral rolls," he
said. The Election commission of India team which is in Goa
will also host a diamond jubilee photo exhibition on Monday.
PTI
