Observers to monitor candidates' expenses

Chennai: The Election Commission of India will depute the Central poll observers to Tamil Nadu next week to monitor the election expenses of candidates for the May 16 Assembly polls.

Stating that the Central observers would visit the state on April 19 or 20, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni told reporters, after releasing the Assembly Elections 2016 — Reference Handbook, here on Saturday that the observers would be present in places like Chennai, Tiruchy, Madurai and Coimbatore.
“This is the first time they are being sent by the Election Commission before issuing notification (on April 22). Their main job is to monitor the poll expenses of candidates,” he said.

They would be visiting amidst increasing incidents of cash seizure by the ECI and allegations of distributing cash for votes besides certain television channels launching aggressive election campaign on the television channels.

The filing of nominations will begin on April 22 and end on April 29, as per the poll schedule. On the seizure of unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 23.66 crore, he said so far Rs 16.81 crore were handed over to persons after they provided relevant documents for the same. "Those who submit proper documents get back their money within 24 hours. The inspection details are updated then and there to the EC through a mobile app and we are doing our best to reduce inconvenience to people carrying cash," he added.

On the appointment of paramilitary forces to Tamil Nadu he said, 275 companies would be arriving here for the poll and the Commission has sought additional 25 companies.

On the online enrolling in the voters, which ended on Friday, he said so far 6,84,000 persons had registered online this time. Those who have failed to register would be entitled to do it only in the next election, Lakhoni said.