Delhi Assembly Election 2025 | Rs 25 for broom to Rs 3,075 for horse: EC outlines campaign spending limits for candidates

Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India published a rate card stating the maximum amount of money candidates are permitted to spend on various items.

This rate card is prepared with the help of the data collected by district election officials and while most of the items are priced the same in all constituencies, some might differ based on the local market rates.

Apart from the rate card for each item, the EC has also set an expenditure upper limit of Rs 40 lakh per candidate for Assembly constituencies.

Meanwhile, the upper limit for Lok Sabha was Rs 95 lakh. The expenditure of each candidate is are accounted from the day they file the nomination till the results day, as per a report in The Indian Express.

As per the IE report, in the Delhi polls, the daily wage rate is between Rs 692 to Rs 913, depending of the skill and education of the manpower.

Along with the wage rate for workers, the EC also issues a pricing list for the food that is provided to party workers and those who attend campaigns. As per the EC, if full meals are served in case of lunch or dinner, the maximum per plate cost has to be below Rs 70.

Since the parties also have to arrange for stages, tables, and podiums for their campaigns and rallies, the EC has stated that for a gathering of less than 250 people, the staging rate must be Rs 6,150 and for a bigger gathering of up to 2000 people, the maximum staging expenditure must be Rs 30,000 per event. The flowers that are used to decorate the stage are priced at Rs 35 per sq feet.

Meanwhile, the EC even has a rate card for pens (Rs 6 each), wristbands (Rs 4), watches party symbol and candidates’ photos (Rs 308), and printed T-shorts(Rs 110 each). Infact, the garlands used to welcome guests at campaigns must also be capped at Rs 1,500(for the 10-foot ones).

Along with this, if a party uses drums in the campaign, it must be within the Rs 500 per day charge. Given the increasing use of technology, the EC has set the rate of Rs 7000 a day for drone.

In case a party decided to hire animals for their roadshows, they have to pay Rs 3,075 per day for a horse and 6,150 for an elephant. However, this requires a prior permit from the Chief Electoral Officer

Infact, the EC even has a rate card for a broom, which is also the Aam Aadmi Party's symbol. Whether used for maintaining the officers or during campaigns, they must not cost more that Rs 25.

To ensure that candidates are adhering to the rate card, district election offices send their representatives to every campaign to take a video of all arrangements. In case of a violation, the cadidatire of the induvitudal stands cancelled.

Delhi Assembly Election 2025 | The first of two state assembly polls this year sees a three-way contest between AAP, Congress, and BJP in the nation's capital. AAP decided to contest the polls alone, causing rumours of a rift in I.N.D.I.A. BJP, meanwhile, is hoping the liquor excise policy scam and pollution in Delhi will give the saffron party an edge over AAP. Kejriwal, on the other hand, has different plans with his demand for reservations for Delhi Jats. Congress will also be looking to make its presence felt and has not held back from attacking its own alliance partner. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.

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