Jharkhand Assembly Elections 2024: Who Bears the Cost of State Elections?
The Jharkhand Assembly elections are set for November 13 and 20, with votes to be counted on November 23. On Monday, the Congress party released 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 allied with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), which currently holds power in the state. On Tuesday, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) announced six candidates, resolving seat-sharing matters within the INDIA alliance. Amid these political movements, an important question arises: who bears the financial burden of state elections?
Election Costs: Who Pays?
The Election Commission of India (ECI) oversees the management of both Parliamentary and Assembly elections, ensuring they are fair, transparent, and free from misuse of resources.
Election-related expenses are divided into two categories:
– Legal Expenditure : Includes campaign costs, rallies, advertisements, and public meetings.
– Illegal Expenditure : Covers practices like bribery, distribution of cash or liquor, and other corrupt activities.
Candidates are legally required to disclose all election-related expenses. Under Section 77(1) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, candidates must:
– Maintain a detailed and accurate account of all expenses incurred or authorized during the election period.
– Ensure that their expenses do not exceed the legal ceiling set under Section 77(3) of the Act.
Non-compliance with these regulations can result in disqualification or legal action. Candidates are required to submit a verified expense report to the District Election Officer (DEO) within 30 days after the election results. Any discrepancies or falsifications in these reports may lead to penalties or disqualification.
RJD and Alliance Updates
When announcing its candidate list, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav reaffirmed the unity of the INDIA alliance, emphasizing their shared goal of re-electing Hemant Soren as Chief Minister. He said, “The INDIA alliance is united, and we will contest the elections together. Hemant Soren will be the Chief Minister of Jharkhand once again. A consensus on seat-sharing has been reached, and RJD’s seats will be announced soon.”
This election represents a key opportunity for the alliance to strengthen its position in Jharkhand, all while ensuring strict adherence to the Election Commission’s regulations on managing campaign expenditures.
