Election Commission asks candidates not to seek vote at social gatherings

Jaipur: Visiting social functions or events for electioneering may cost candidates dearer in poll-bound Rajasthan as the Election Commission has decided to count the function's entire expense in the candidate's poll expenditure.

Rajasthan's assembly polls is slated for December 1. The commission would be closely monitoring poll expenditure of candidates and if a candidate is found to be seeking vote or supports in social functions like 'jagran', 'sawamani', marriage, 'punjabi lungar' and 'mratyubhoj' the function would be counted in the poll expenditure of the candidate. Videography of such functions will done to keep a check, state Chief Election Officer A K Jain said over phone.

"No candidate, after his official announcement by the party, will influence voters in social gatherings and other functions and if a candidate is found to be campaigning that function will be counted as poll expenditure," Jain said.

There, however, will be no restriction on personal visit of a candidate, he added. The commission has issued guidelines in this regard to all political parties, Jain said. "We will not track every social gathering, marriage or event. Candidates can make normal participation in such events. We will act on complaints or other information," Jain clarified.