In a significant move, the Rajasthan State Election Commission (SEC) announced a major revision in the expenditure limits for candidates contesting elections to local governing bodies across the state. The decision, declared on Tuesday, aims to bring the financial ceilings in line with contemporary economic realities.
Revised Expenditure Limits: A Substantial Hike
The commission has effectively doubled the permissible spending amounts for most tiers of the panchayati raj system. For the crucial post of sarpanch, the limit has been raised sharply from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh. Candidates running for a seat in a panchayat samiti can now spend up to Rs 1.5 lakh, a jump from the previous cap of Rs 75,000.
Those aspiring for a position in the zilla parishad will have a significantly larger budget, with the new limit set at Rs 3 lakh, double the old limit of Rs 1.5 lakh.
New Caps for Urban Local Body Elections
The financial rules for urban civic polls have also been overhauled. Candidates in municipal corporation (nagar nigam) elections now have an expenditure ceiling of Rs 3.5 lakh, increased from Rs 2.5 lakh. For municipal council (nagar parishad) polls, the limit is now Rs 2 lakh, up from Rs 1.5 lakh.
In a notable change, the spending limit for municipal board (nagar palika) elections has been doubled from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh, bringing it on par with the nagar parishad cap.
Stringent New Rules for Campaign Logistics
Alongside the revised financial limits, the State Election Commission has imposed strict new regulations on campaign logistics to ensure a more level playing field and curb the use of large convoys. In a decisive step, candidates will be prohibited from using a range of vehicles for electioneering purposes.
The banned list includes buses, trucks, mini-buses, and vans. Furthermore, the use of traditional animal-driven carts such as tongas, camel carts, and bullock carts for campaigning is also not permitted under the new guidelines. These restrictions are expected to significantly alter the traditional mode of canvassing in both rural and urban areas of Rajasthan.
The commission's twin announcements—raising expenditure limits while tightening campaign vehicle rules—mark a pivotal shift in the framework for the upcoming local body elections. The changes are likely to influence campaign strategies and financial planning for thousands of aspirants across the state's villages and cities.
