The process of nominations for the first phase of Panchayat elections in AP has ended. The second phase nominations have also started and the Election Commission has given a clarification on the issue of expenditure and directed the candidates to follow them accordingly. There would be severe action if the limits are crossed. It seems that Nimmagadda, who got powers through courts, is giving a strong warning.
Nimmagadda has already announced that elections were being held as per the 2011 census. So, the Election Commission has also released the spending limit as per those calculations.
In a village with a population of more than 10 thousand, the Sarpanch candidate has an expenditure limit of up to Rs 2.50 lakh. The same ward member can spend up to Rs 50,000. And in villages with a population of less than 10 thousand, the sarpanch candidate has to spend only up to Rs 1.5 lakhs. In the case of a ward member, it is Rs 30,000.
The SEC has invited former Telangana State Election Commissioner V Nagi Reddy to be a special observer in the AP Panchayat elections. The SEC has appointed IFS officers as expenditure observers and IAS officers as general observers. The Election Commission has directed the State Panchayat Raj Commissioner Girija Shankar to immediately appoint nodal officers to inform the Election Commission about the details of each district.
