Bhubaneswar: After enhancing the spending limit for candidates during Panchayat elections, the State Election Commission (SEC) has increased the poll expenditure limit for Councilors, Corporators, Chairpersons and Mayors.
Aditya Prasad Padhi, State Election Commissioner held discussion with senior officials of SEC and has taken this decision after taking into consideration various aspects on election spending.
Accordingly he directed officials to communicate the decision of the Commission.
“In exercise of the powers conferred under Sub-Section (1) of Section 17-A of the Odisha Municipal Act, 1950 and Section-82 of Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, 2003 and having consulted the State Government, the SEC, Odisha hereby revises as follows the limit on expenditure that may be incurred by a candidate either by himself or through any person authorized by him for election as Councillor/Corporator/Chairperson/Mayor to a NAC/ Municipality/ Municipal Corporation,” the Commission said in a order.
Now, the candidates contesting for the post of Corporator and Mayor in three municipal Corporations—Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Berhampur can spend a maximum Rs 2 lakh and Rs 12 lakh, respectively.
Similarly, the expenditure limit for candidates contesting for Councilor and Chairperson in Municipalities having a population above 1 lakh set at Rs 1 lakh and Rs 5 lakh, respectively.
For the Municipality having a population between 50,000 to 1 lakh, the expenditure limit is Rs 75,000 and Rs 3 lakh for the candidates standing for Councilor and Chairperson posts.
Similarly, the candidates contesting for Councilor and Chairperson in NACs/Municipalities having a population up to 50,000 can now spend upto Rs 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh, respectively.
The SEC is taking all steps to conduct the election to Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) soon after the Panchayat Polls. The Commission has convened a meeting with all political parties on February 10 to ensure smooth conduct of the urban poll.
The delimitation of wards, reservation seats and all other formalities required to conduct the ULB election has already been completed. The draft electoral roll will also be out on February 10.
According to sources, the Commission is very likely to announce the schedule for the urban election in the State after holding meeting with political parties for smooth conduct of election in the urban areas of the State.