EC keeping watch on spending by candiddates.

 TEAM HERALD

teamhearld@herald-goa.com

PANJIM: Even as Election Commission (EC) is keeping a strict watch on expenditure by candidates, it will not be able to do much until last date of nominations, and by all means spending by candidates  prior  to   withdrawal  of  nominations, will be out of  the EC  purview.

Chief Election Commissioner S Y Quraishi who was  in Goa  to review poll preparedness said while replying to a question on Wednesday. He said   they can  actually  take  into  account  the spending  by candidates from last date of  filing of nominations.

CEC replied when it was pointed out to him that  prospective  candidates have been spending  in  a  big  way  even before  they have  opened  expenditure accounts.

CEC also admitted that CEC is helpless to stop a candidate from contesting even if it is known he is involved in huge financial irregularities. Replying to another question, he said the electoral reform Bill will be presented before Parliament during Budget session of the Parliament.

The Bill was originally slated to be presented in the Winter Session of the Parliament.  

The CEC expressed satisfaction about poll preparedness in the State  while he  admitted facing some difficulties in   having  additional staff  as there  has been  considerable increase in polling booths.   Number of   polling  booths have  gone  up from 1000  to 1612.   However adequate  security arrangement  will be made, he added.