Election money should be spent as per rules: Expenditure tracker

Tamil Nadu: Expenditure monitors have advised candidates to file election accounts in accordance with rules and regulations in the 16 assembly constituencies under the Chennai district.

Currently, 419 candidates, including 298 independent candidates, are contesting in the 16 assembly constituencies of the Chennai district. Eight general observers, 15 expenditure observers, and one police observer have been appointed to monitor these constituencies. Expenditure monitors visit constituencies to monitor the campaigns of political party candidates and independent candidates and estimate their expenditures.

Furthermore, candidates in the respective constituencies have been instructed to submit their expenditures to the respective expenditure controllers by specific dates.

Accordingly, a consultation meeting was held for candidates on Friday under the leadership of constituency-wise expenditure observers. A meeting of candidates was held on Friday evening, chaired by Varaprasad Varma, the expenditure controller for the Royapuram constituency. Expenditure monitors, including those purchased from small shops, require cash for expenditures exceeding ₹10,000. If they spend more than ₹10,000, they can do so through check, UPI, or Google Pay.

He said meetings will be held on the 13th, 17th, and 21st to report election expenses to officials.

Royapuram Returning Officer R. Panneerselvam, cost accountants, and others attended the meeting.