Bihar Elections 2020
New Delhi: Following record seizures worth Rs 35.26 crores done in Expenditure Monitoring Process in ongoing Bihar Assembly Elections, the Election Commission of India today marked 91 Assembly Constituencies in the state as ‘Expenditure Sensitive Constituencies’ for more focussed monitoring.
The ECI informed that for effective monitoring to curb black money in state assembly elections in Bihar, 67 Expenditure Observers have been deployed and 881 Flying Squads and 948 Static Surveillance Teams have been formed for Election Expenditure Monitoring work in the state.
The ECI reiterated that distributing cash and gifts during electoral process was not permitted under the law, for example distribution of money, liquor, or any other item disbursed and given to the electors with the intent to influence them. “This expenditure comes under the definition of “bribery” which is an offence both under 171B of IPC and under R.P. Act, 1951. The expenditure on such items is illegal,” the ECI stated.
Details of record seizures already done so far (as on 19th October 2020) – compared to total of Rs 23.81 cr in AE 2015- are as follows:
In the meantime, the Commission has also has appointed former Indian Revenue Service officers Madhu Mahajan and B. R Balakrishnan as Special Expenditure Observers for General Election to Legislative Assembly of Bihar, 2020.
– globalbihari bureau
