EC asks candidates to open separate bank accounts

Election Commission has issued instructions asking candidates to open a separate bank account exclusively for the purpose of election expenditure.

The account should be opened not later than one day before the date on which the candidate files his nomination papers, a spokesman of Haryana Chief Electoral Office said today, giving details of instructions issued by EC to all Chief Electoral Officers of all the states and Union territories.

The account number of the bank should be communicated in writing to the Returning Officer (RO) of the constituency at the time of filing of nomination, he said.

The account can be opened jointly with the candidate's election agent, and not with any other person, he said.

The account can be opened anywhere in the state and in any bank including co-operative banks or in post offices.

If the candidate has not opened the bank account or not intimated the account number, the RO would issue a notice asking him to comply with the Commission's instructions, the spokesman said.

All election expenditure needs to be made by the candidate only from this account. All receipts meant for expenses to be incurred by the candidate on electioneering would be deposited in this account, irrespective of its source of funding including candidate's own fund, he said.

A self-certified copy of the statement of this bank account would have to be submitted by the candidate to the District Education Officer (DEO) along with the statement of election expenditure, as required, will have to be filed within 30 days from the date of declaration of results, he added.