Maha State EC appoints IT sleuths to keep check on expenses

Maharashtra State Election Commission, for the first time, has appointed 55 officials from the Income Tax department to keep a tab on the expenditure incurred by candidates who would be contesting the local body polls, a senior official said today.
Ten municipal corporations are going to polls on February 21, including the Mumbai civic body.
Most of the times, candidates try to adjust, hide or shows lesser than the actual expense to rein in limits, he said.
The SEC has fixed a limit of Rs 5 lakh per candidate as poll campaign expenses and has put a condition that the candidate would be disqualified if the expenses go beyond the limit.

State Election commissioner J S Saharia said this year the commission has appointed Income Tax officials as expenses observers.
"Of the 55, 15 officials will be working in Mumbai and suburban areas and remaining in rest of the corporation polls," he said.
"They will keep a tab on the expenses which will help control unnecessary expenditures," said Saharia.
Meanwhile, during a programme held here today Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao also appreciated this move and said,"I am glad to note that Income Tax officers have been appointed as expenditure observers for the first time.