POLL EXPENDITURE PANEL SOON

In the wake of the cash garland controversy, the Election Commission of India will soon set up an expenditure monitoring division. The unit will come into being within the next couple of months. It will have senior officials from the I-T Department. This division may wield the stick during the Bihar Assembly elections due in November. Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said the new division would maintain the expenditure statements of parties and candidates and take follow-up action. Referring to the issue of cash garland, which he described as an old phenomenon, he said, “The money in cash garlands will come under the category of donation to political parties. Since there is no election right now, it does not seem to be in violation of the election law.” He, however, said that the Election Commission was concerned about the controversy.
Currency note garlands were presented to UP Chief Minister Mayawati during the BSP’s silver jubilee celebrations and the critics alleged that public money was being abused for private purpose.