Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024: Who Bears the Cost of State Elections?
The Jharkhand Assembly polls are set to take place in two phases on November 13 and 20, with the counting scheduled for November 23. On Monday night, the Congress unveiled its first list of 21 candidates, including Finance Minister Rameshwar Oraon, who will contest from the Lohardaga seat reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
In Jharkhand, Congress is in an alliance with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), currently sharing power in the state. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) followed suit on Tuesday, announcing six candidates for the elections, resolving seat-sharing concerns within the INDIA bloc. Amid these political developments, a crucial question arises: who bears the costs of state elections?
Election Costs: Who Pays?
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is responsible for overseeing, directing, and controlling Parliamentary and Assembly elections to ensure they are conducted fairly and transparently, minimizing the misuse of resources.
Election expenditure is categorized into two types:
- Legal Expenditure: Includes costs for campaigns, rallies, advertisements, and public meetings.
- Illegal Expenditure: Encompasses impermissible activities like bribery, distribution of cash or liquor, and other corrupt practices.
Candidates are legally required to report all election-related expenses. Under Section 77(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, candidates for the House of the People or State Legislative Assembly must:
- Maintain a separate, accurate account of all expenses incurred or authorized during the election period.
- Ensure expenditures do not exceed the prescribed legal ceiling as per Section 77(3) of the Act.
Failure to adhere to these regulations can lead to disqualification or legal consequences. Furthermore, candidates must submit a verified account of their expenses to the District Election Officer (DEO) within 30 days of the election results. Any falsification or errors in these accounts may result in penalties or disqualification.
RJD and Alliance Updates
While releasing the candidate list, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav reaffirmed the unity of the INDIA bloc, emphasizing their commitment to the re-election of Hemant Soren as Chief Minister. He stated, “The I.N.D.I.A. bloc stands united, and we will contest the elections together. Hemant Soren will be the Jharkhand CM again. A consensus on seat-sharing has been reached, and RJD’s seats will be announced shortly.”
This electoral battle reflects the coalition’s strategy to consolidate its position in Jharkhand while adhering to the strict oversight of the Election Commission in managing campaign expenditures.
