EC declares Arunachal as expenditure sensitive state

LS polls in Arunachal Pradesh for would be held on April 9, while notification would be issued on March 15

With Arunachal Pradesh being declared as one of the "most expenditure sensitive state" in the country, the Election Commission has constituted a high powered committee to monitor election expenditure in the state, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) C B Kumar said today.

"The commission, based on inputs has identified 23 assembly constituencies (total 60 in the state) in six districts of the state as most expenditure sensitive," Kumar told a press conference here.

The districts include, West Siang, East Siang, Kurung Kumey, Lower Subansiri, Papum Pare and East Kameng, the CEO said.

"This time we are going to have targeted approach instead of general approach to monitor election expenditure in these districts," he said adding, the other districts would also be under the commission scanner.

The CEO said, as per commission's directions, election expenditure monitoring (EEM) teams like video surveillance teams, video viewing teams, MCMC, flying squads and state surveillance teams have been constituted to check out any type of malpractices during elections.

"Banks have been asked to furnish daily reports on any abnormal withdrawal or deposit. Flying squads and state surveillance teams in each assembly constituency will check all the vehicles to ensure that no unaccounted cash of more than Rs 50,000 is carried by individual and political parties for election related activities," he said.

Lok Sabha polls in Arunachal Pradesh for two constituencies would be held on April 9, while notification would be issued on March 15 and last date for filing nominations has been fixed on March 22 next.

Scrutiny of papers would be conducted on March 24 while last date of withdrawal of candidature has been fixed on March 26 next. Counting of votes would take place on May 16.