Telangana EC asks candidates of Gram Panchayat polls to submit election expenditure

Telangana State Election Commission on Saturday asked the elected candidates and the candidates who had filed nominations in Gram Panchayat elections to submit an account of pre-election expenses within 45 days.

The release of State Election Commission read, "Every candidate who filed nomination irrespective of whether he/she has withdrawn or unanimously elected shall submit election expenditure for the period from the date of filing of nomination to the date of declared as elected on the day of counting or unanimously elected, as the case may be. Even, if he/she did not incur any money, he/she has to file election expenditure accounts as nil."

A candidate who fails to lodge an account of election expenditure within a time period of 45 days and in the manner required will be disqualified to contest in elections to Panchayat Raj Bodies for 3 years and in case of elected candidates, they will cease to hold office in addition to disqualification to contest for 3 years, the statement read.

The Gram Panchayat elections were conducted in three phases on January 21, 25 and 30 this year. The 45 days for the first phase of election will expire on March 6, for the second phase on March 10, and the third phase on March 15.