Final Cover Election Expenditure - Election Commission of India

ELECTION COMMISSION OF INDIANirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi-110001Annexure-54No.464/AP- HP & AP-LA/BE/2011/EEM Date: 3 rd June 2011ToThe Chief Electoral Officer of All States and UT,Subject: Clarification regarding lodging expenses being incurred by the campaigners of the contestingcandidates.Sir,I am directed to invite reference to the provisions of Section77 of the Representation of thePeople Act, 1951. As per Explanation 1(a) read with Explanation 2 under sub-section (1) of the saidSection, the expenditure incurred by leaders of the political party, who are star campaigners, on accountof travel for propagating programme of the party shall not be deemed to be the expenditure of thecandidate in connection with the election. The expenditure related to booking of hotels and lodgesrooms in the constituency by or for the Star campaigners is not exempted under Section77 of R P Act,1951.2. I am further directed to inform that all expenditure including lodging/boarding expenses of starcampaigners in the constituency where they campaign for any candidate shall be included in theexpenditure account of that particular candidate, provided that -(a)(b)the Star Campaigners/Campaigners have actually campaigned for the candidate, andthe Star Campaigners/Campaigners have incurred such boarding and lodgingexpenditure while remaining in a commercial hotel or lodge for the purpose of electioncampaign of the candidate irrespective of the fact whether the payment is made by suchcandidate or not.3. The market value of such commercial boarding and lodging is to be calculated towards theelection expenditure of the candidate, even if the boarding and lodging is provided ascomplimentary. It is further clarified that if the star campaigner while availing the boarding andlodging in one constituency, travels to another constituency to campaign for other candidates,then the lodging and boarding expense will be proportionately distributed as the expense ofthose candidates.4. A notice may be issued immediately in all such cases and it should be processed accordingly.5. This disposes of Chief Electoral Officer, Andhra Pradesh, letter no. 1760/Elecs.D/2011-7, dated30.04.2011.Yours faithfully,Sd/-(AVINASH KUMAR)UNDER SECRETARY173