Final Cover Election Expenditure - Election Commission of India

the purpose of their visit to multiple ACs within the district for electioneering shall not beincluded in the accounts of candidate(s). It is further clarified that if the district functionaryhimself is a candidate, contesting from the same district and such vehicle is used formovement in the constituency from where he is contesting, or such vehicle is used forcampaign for any particular candidate(s), then the hiring charges of the vehicle shall beincluded in the accounts of the candidate(s) using the vehicle for campaign purpose.5.5.9. Permission for public rally shall not be given, if the candidate does not produce his accountsfor inspection, without valid reasons. A show cause notice should be issued and served fornot producing accounts, before the permission for public rally is rejected. However, if thecandidate produces the accounts for inspection, then permission for public rally shall begranted forthwith.5.6.1. Expenditure on travel expenses of Star Campaigners:As per section 77 of the R.P.Act 1951, the expenditure incurred by the leaders of a politicalparty on account of travel by air or by any other means shall not be deemed to beexpenditure in connection with the election incurred or authorized by a candidate.Explanation (2) of the section defines political leaders to include 40 persons of a recognizedpolitical party and 20 persons of a party other than the recognized political party, i.e.,registered unrecognized parties, whose names have been communicated to the ChiefElectoral Officer and Election Commission of India within a period of 7 days from the dateof notification. Such political leaders as communicated to the CEO and the ECI are knownas Star Campaigners. The Chief Electoral Officer after receiving the information during theprescribed period regarding list of star campaigner from Recognized Political Party/Otherthan Recognized Political Party shall make it available to all RetuningOfficer/DEO/Expenditure Observer and place it on their website.5.6.2. In the event of public rally or meeting by the star campaigner, if the candidate or his electionagent shares the dais with the star campaigner/ other dignitary, then the entire expenditure onthat rally other than the travel expenses of the star campaigner should be added to thecandidate’s expenses. If the candidate is not present on the dais but the banners/posters withname of the candidate or the photographs of the candidate are displayed at the site of pubicrally or the name of the candidate mentioned by the Dignitary/Star Campaigner, then alsothe entire expenditure in the public rally other than the travel expenses of the starcampaigner will be added to the candidate’s account of election expenses. If there is morethan one candidate, sharing the dais or displaying banners or posters with their names inrally/meeting, then the expenses on such rally/meeting should equally be divided among allsuch candidates. The RO should pass on the information about the other candidates presentin the rally to the respective ROs, for making necessary entry of expenditure in the ShadowObservation Register of such candidates.5.6.3. Helicopter or Aircraft Expenses: One of the major items of election expense is by way ofhiring helicopters and aircrafts. As per Commission’s instructions, if the name of starcampaigner of the political party has been intimated to the Commission/CEO within 7 days26