New Delhi, Oct 21 (UNI) The Election Commission has constituted a committee, comprising Harish Kumar, Ex-IRS and DG (Investigation); Umesh Sinha, Secretary General and DG (Expenditure), to examine the issues concerning expenditure limit for a candidate, in view of increase in number of electors and rise in Cost Inflation Index and other factors.

'Considering the factor of COVID-19, the Ministry of Law and Justice on October 19 has notified an amendment in Rule 90 of Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 enhancing the existing expenditure limit by 10 per cent. This increase of 10 per cent will be applicable with immediate effect in ongoing elections,' the Election Commission said in a statement here on Wednesday.

'Expenditure limit for a candidate was last revised in 2014 vide notification dated 28.02.2014, while in respect of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana it was revised vide notification dated 10.10.2018,' the statement said.

In the past six years, the limit was not increased, despite increase in electorate from 834 million to 910 million in 2019 to 921 million now. Further, the Cost Inflation Index during this period has increased from 220 to 280 in 2019 to 301 now, the statement said.

The terms of reference of the committee include to assess the change in the number of electors across the States/Union Territories and its bearing on expenditure; to assess the change in Cost Inflation Index and its bearing on the pattern of expenditure incurred by the candidates in recent elections; to seek views/inputs of the political parties and other stakeholders; to examine other factors which may have bearings on expenditure, and to examine any other related issue.

The Committee will submit its report within 120 days of its constitution, the statement added.

UNI NY RJ 2244